Eric Uribe
The 2022 Grand Slam season just ended with Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek winning their maiden US Open titles. Both are poised to be the sport’s generational stars, but can they win the 2023 Australian Open? We have way-too-early betting predictions on the next-closest Grand Slam.
Obviously, we’re still a ways away from the Melbourne tourney. The Australian Open isn’t slated to start until January 16, 2023. Keep that in mind if you can’t afford to have your money locked away for fourth months in a futures bet. If you can, this article is for you because now is the opportune time to lock in value-rich odds at top betting sites for tennis.
Australian Open Men’s Pick
Is there a changing of the guard happening on the men’s side? Not only is Alcaraz the “new kid on the block”, but one of the original Big 3 — Roger Federer — is now retired. Both these massive changes have re-shuffled the betting odds for the 2023 Australian Open men’s bracket. At the moment, popular online Australian Open sportsbooks are favoring the following players:
| Player |  |  |
| Novak Djokovic | +125 | +125 |
| Daniil Medvedev | +275 | +275 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | +325 | +325 |
| Nick Kyrgios | +650 | +650 |
| Rafael Nadal | +750 | +750 |
| Jannik Sinner | +1000 | +1000 |
Alcaraz is now the number-one ranked player in the world at the ripe age of 19. He’s every bit deserving of that ranking after what we saw in New York. Alcaraz used unreal athleticism and mental fortitude to will himself to victory on more than one occasion at the US Open. More Grand Slam titles for the young phenom should be the expectation for Alcaraz, but not in Australia.
We still believe Djokovic is the world’s best player — a fact slightly forgotten in 2022 due to mostly external factors. Of course, we’re talking about his unvaccinated status which barred him from playing at the 2022 Aussie Open and US Open. He remains unvaccinated but it appears most countries, including the usually-strict Australia, are rolling back vaccine mandates on travel.
Things could always change — COVID has proven to be unpredictable — but we’re betting Djokovic is back in the mix in 2023. Now, while uncertainty remains, is the time to lock in the 21-time Grand Slamm winner at the current odds.
Alcaraz proved his mettle on the hard courts this season, but the hard surface remains Djokovic’s bread and butter — more so than anyone else throughout the playing field. His elite serving ability just thrives on the court, hence why he’s won 12 Grand Slams on it (9 of which at the Australian Open, most of his career). We’re taking the risk and betting Djokovic to reclaim his world’s best reputation once these vaccine mandates are eliminated, which appears to be sooner rather than later.
Australian Open Women’s Pick
What you’ll immediately realize about the Australian Open women’s betting odds is how one-sided they are. There’s Swiatek and there’s everybody else, as seen below:
| Player | | |
| Iga Swiatek | +225 | +225 |
| Naomi Osaka | +750 | +750 |
| Simona Halep | +900 | +900 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | +1000 | +1000 |
| Elena Rybakina | +1200 | +1200 |
| Coco Gauff | +1200 | +1200 |
| Ons Jabeur | +1200 | +1200 |
While we think Alcaraz has a tougher path to become the face of the men’s game, Swiatek is probably already that in the women’s world. The reigning Australian Open Ash Barty is retired. Serena Williams, the sport’s most popular name, is supposedly retired. Naomi Osaka can’t seem to get out of her own way. So yes, it’s really Swiatek’s spot to lose atop the pecking order.
Betting Swiatek to take the Aussie Open is certainly the safest choice out there. After winning the US Open in convincing fashion, her career record on hardcourts is now a solid 85-30 (72 winning percentage). Sure, she’s never gone further than semi-finals at the Australian Open (did so a year ago), but this isn’t the same Swiatek. Her career shot up shortly after that and Swiatek’s entire game has sharpened considerably.
But outside of Swiatek, there is one other name that catches our attention and that’s Coco Gauff. If there’s a threat to Swiatek’s throne, then it might come from the only 18-year-old American — yes, only 18 despite being a pro since 2019. The teenage phenom flashed her potential throughout 2022. First, it was reaching the finals of the French Open and then it was becoming the first teenage woman to advance to the quarters of the US Open since 2009. We would not be surprised to see Gauff earn her maiden Grand Slam title come 2023, maybe as early as the Australian Open.
If you can only make one bet here, then put it on Swiatek. But if you can “spread the wealth” or just want to up the risk, then Gauff deserves your money, as well.
How To Bet On 2023 Tennis Futures?
While you have several months to bet on 2023 tennis futures such as the Australian Open, locking these odds right now isn’t a bad idea if you can afford to park your money. The listed lines will change — especially in the event that Djokovic is 100 percent confirmed to play. To place your bets — not only on this Grand Slam but the other three — take a hard look at the online sportsbooks listed underneath.
You can also find a slew of sportsbook bonuses at the below sites. Through these bonuses, you can earn free play. The same free play can be used to make tennis bets completely “on the house.” See the table underneath for up-to-date offers available across the top bookmakers.
