2013 Australian Open Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

2013 Australian Open Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers: The tennis world doesn’t waste much time getting serious in the 2013 as the first major tournament of the year is already set to begin. The Australian Open kicks off Sunday, and the fast speeds of the hard, outdoor surface will certainly put every players endurance to the test. Given the speeds, big hitters and players that can dominate with the serve can often control their opponents, but players that can counter with hard, well-placed returns are dangerous, as well.

Last year, Novak Djokovic survived a five-set thriller against Andy Murray in the semifinals and another five-set battle with Rafael Nadal to claim his second straight Australian Open title. Whether or not he makes a run at a three-peat remains to be seen, but the one thing that is certain is that Nadal won’t be in the mix. The 11-time Grand Slam champ will miss the tournament after a stomach virus has prevented him from preparing properly.

2013 Australian Open Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

The Favorites

This tournament was Novak Djokovic’s coming out party when he made Melbourne the site of his first major championship in 2008. He has since ascended to No. 1 spot in the world rankings, reaching the semifinals in 10 straight Grand Slams and winning four of the last eight major titles. More importantly, Djokovic has won the Australian Open in each of the past two seasons. The hard surface suits his relentless style, and after landing a favorable draw for this year’s tournament, he has to be considered the frontrunner to three-peat Down Under.

With the monkey officially off his back after winning last year’s U.S. Open and capturing his first major, Andy Murray could be primed to go on a hot streak of his own. He had already reached the semifinals in seven of the last eight majors, and prior to his win at the U.S. Open, he was in the finals at Wimbledon. More importantly, Murray has played some of his best tennis in Melbourne. He reached the finals in 2010 and 2011 and pushed Novak Djokovic to five sets in last year’s semis. Back-to-back Grand Slams is a real possibility for Murray.

The Dark Horses

Ironically, his victory in the 2010 Australian Open seems to have marked an end to Roger Federer’s reign as tennis’ best player. Yes, he did win Wimbledon last year and even recaptured the No. 1 ranking briefly, but he has reached the finals of just two of the 11 majors since his 2010 Australian Open title and has been bounced before the semifinals four times during the stretch. On the plus side, Federer is a four-time winner in Melbourne and has reach at least the semifinals in nine straight Aussie Opens, but with some nagging injuries and a brutal draw, it is tough to see him adding another Grand Slam to his resume. He definitely has the toughest road out of the top players.

Call him a late bloomer, but David Ferrer is coming off his best year on tour as far the majors are concerned. He reached at least the quarterfinals in all four Grand Slam events, reaching the semifinals twice. Ferrer has also been stout in each of the last two Australian Opens, reaching the semis in 2011 and the quarterfinals last year. After showing consistency on the big stages last year, don’t be surprised if he makes a little noise in Melbourne and gives the top players a run for their money.

Sleeper Special

With a ton of momentum on his side, relative unknown Bernard Tomic could stun the field at the Australian Open. For one, he has advanced a round further in the tournament in each of the last three years, reaching the fourth round last season. More importantly, Tomic has come out on fire in 2013. He won three singles matches at the Hopman Cup, notching a win over Novak Djokovic in the process. He followed that up by earning his first ATP Tour tournament victory at the Apia International. Tomic has never played better tennis, and confidence can be a dangerous weapon for a talented, young player.