The biggest tennis event in the southern hemisphere is just around the corner as Melbourne Park prepares to host the 114th edition of the Australian Open. Summer might be in full flow Down Under, though the real heat will be on the court as superstar names such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka congregate in Australia.
Where do we even start! There are several juicy storylines as we approach the Australian Open, from the continuation of the epic Sincaraz rivalry to Novak Djokovic’s quest for a 25th Grand Slam, and even the return of Roger Federer (not in the actual men’s draw, but in an exhibition match).
Below, we run through some of the biggest talking points and pick out the best bets from both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
Australian Open Best Bets
As we inch towards the opening round, we have been busy looking through all the best online bookies to try and find you the tastiest selections. Here’s what we’ve got…
| Market | Odds | Return for £10 |
|---|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner to win | 10/11 (Betway) | £19.09 |
| Novak Djokovic to win the third quarter | 6/4 (Betfred) | £25.00 |
| Aryna Sabalenka to win | 2/1 (Spreadex) | £30.00 |
| Mirra Andreeva to win the second quarter | 11/4 (William Hill) | £37.50 |
*Odds correct at 11:00 GMT on 16/01/2026. Odds subject to change.
Bet 1: Jannik Sinner to Win the Australian Open
Looking ahead to the men’s tournament, all roads lead to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The two men have dominated tennis, winning all the previous eight Grand Slam titles between them (four each).
When it comes to the head-to-head record, it is Alcaraz who boasts the superior record, winning 10 of their 16 meetings across all competitions. What’s more, the Spaniard has also prevailed in seven of their 10 hard-court matches.
Despite this, there are several factors which point to Sinner. For instance, the Italian has won back-to-back Australian Open titles and is looking to cap off a historic hat-trick. On top of that, Alcaraz has never gone past the quarter-final stage in Melbourne.
Bearing everything in mind, we’re backing Sinner to become the first man to win three straight Australian Open titles since Novak Djokovic.
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Bet 2: Novak Djokovic to Win the Third Quarter
Speaking of Djokovic, the 38-year-old is preparing for his 21st appearance at the Australian Open, with the Serb targeting an unprecedented 11th title in Melbourne.
Djokovic has a record-setting 24 Grand Slam titles to his name, though adding another one to that tally has proved difficult, with the Serb bowing out in five successive slam semi-finals.
Novak Djokovic Australian Open Stats
Titles: 10
Win/Loss Record: 99-10
Win Percentage: 91.3% (Highest in Open Era)
Finals Win/Loss Record: 10-0
Record Against Top 10 Players: 27-5
The tennis icon enters this year’s tournament without playing at a warm-up event, and concerns about his fitness are already beginning to spread.
Despite this, we are still backing Djokovic to win his quarter of the draw. On paper, the Serb has a relatively straightforward route to the fourth round, before potentially meeting the likes of Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti. Even then, we’re confident the world number four can power into yet another semi-final.
Bet 3: Aryna Sabalenka to Win the Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka may have come up short in the recent ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition with Nick Kyrgios, but she remains the favourite to win the women’s draw at the Australian Open.
The Belarusian star won the event in 2023 and 2024 but failed to bag a historic hat-trick last year after losing to Madison Keys in the final.
All four of Sabalenka’s career Grand Slam titles have come on hard courts, with the player thriving in quick conditions. If the 27-year-old continues to serve well, there are few women who will come close to stopping her.
Bet 4: Mirra Andreeva to Win the Second Quarter
While Sabalenka is the obvious favourite, there are other names in the running. Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina are among the other top contenders.
However, one name which has gone under the radar is 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva. The Russian has already reached the fourth round in Melbourne on two previous occasions, and we are backing Andreeva to win her quarter of the draw.
There are big names standing in her way, including Coco Gauff, Elina Svitolina and Emma Navarro, though the teenager is going from strength to strength and is capable of giving anyone a tough day at the office.
Australian Open Dark Horses
We’ve gone through our best bets, but now it’s time to go a bit wild – it's time for some dark horses. Once again, we looked through the top UK bookies to find the tastiest odds.
| Market | Odds | Return for £10 |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Di Minaur to win | 70/1 (BetVictor) | £710.00 |
| Mirra Andreeva to win | 18/1 (BetVictor) | £190.00 |
*Odds correct at 11:00 GMT on 16/01/2026. Odds subject to change.
We start with Alex Di Minaur, who is currently available at 70/1 with BetVictor. The Australian is going to have the full support of his home crowd, but that’s not the only string to his bow.
Di Minaur has overseen an upswing in his results on hard courts, including several wins over top 10 opposition. His serve has vastly improved in recent times, while his court speed and endurance will make him a threat against anyone in the draw.
Regarding the women’s draw, we’re going back to Andreeva. The Russian is a future tennis superstar, who already has two slam quarter-finals and one semi-final under her belt.
The Russian is consistently improving, and she comes into the event having claimed two WTA 1000 titles in 2025. Both came on the hard surface, while the latter saw her beat Sabalenka in the Indian Wells Open final. At 18/1, she’s worth a punt to go all the way.
