Australian Open 2020: preview, predictions, betting odds, TV and live stream details
Osaka excited to defend title
Australian Open women’s singles champion Naomi Osaka is excited to return to Melbourne and defend her title.
The first grand slam of the 2020 season gets underway in Melbourne on 20 January and the Japanese 22-year-old will come into the event as one of the favourites.
World No.4 Osaka, a two-time grand slam champion, said: “Defending a title means that you have done well at that particular event in the past – therefore you feel good on the surface and in the surroundings. So really I’m just excited to play.”
Australian Ashleigh Barty, the reigning French Open champion, is the current world No.1 women’s player and home fans will have high hopes she can lift the trophy in Melbourne.
Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, US Open champion Bianca Andreescu and seven-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams will also be contenders.
Should Williams win in Australia she would equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam singles titles.
Nole’s Australian love affair
Men’s defending champion Novak Djokovic will be aiming to win a record eighth title in Melbourne and continue his “love affair” down under.
Serbian Djokovic, 32, said: “I’ve had an amazing ten years in Australia going back to the first grand slam I won in Melbourne in 2008. Ever since then it has been a love affair.”
The men’s big three – Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – will look to extend their dominance in the Australian slam.
In 2010 Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were the top three seeds in Melbourne. Ten years later Nadal currently sits at No.1 in the world rankings ahead of Djokovic and Federer.
Swiss star Federer is a six-time champion in Melbourne and he said: “I know I can win the Australian Open. I had two incredible years in 2017 and 2018 when I won there. It’s not that long ago so it gives me belief I can do it again.
“Clearly because it’s the first tournament of the year it is gonna be a priority.”
The big three have won 55 of the past 66 major titles, but players such as Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Denis Shapovalov will hope to break the run.
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About the 2020 Australian Open
- What: first tennis grand slam of the year
- When: 20 January-2 February 2020
- Where: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
- Surface: hard courts outdoors
- Defending champions: Novak Djokovic (men’s singles); Naomi Osaka (women’s singles)
Australian Open UK TV and live stream details
The first grand slam of the season will be shown in the UK on Eurosport and a live stream will be broadcast via Eurosport Player. A monthly pass to Eurosport Player costs £6.99.
Predictions: men’s singles winner
Louis Sealey, Metro: Novak Djokovic
“We’ve become accustomed to seeing Djokovic stamp his authority on the tennis season by winning the Australian Open, and 2020 could be no different. Victory at the Australian Open could well mark the start of another year of dominance for undoubtedly the best male player in the world.”
George Bellshaw, Metro: Novak Djokovic
“Djokovic is always the man to beat in Australia and while hopefully the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev can challenge the old guard, he remains the favourite down under.”
Rod Laver, Australian tennis legend: Roger Federer
“He [Federer] seems to be fine and that’s what counts. If you love the game as much as you do, that’s fine. I also give Roger a very good chance of winning the Australian Open again in Melbourne.”
Todd Woodbridge, Australian former professional: Daniil Medvedev
“I’m going with Medvedev. That run he had through the US Open was just phenomenal. I think he believes, I reckon he thinks he can get into a final and take those guys out. He’s also the most dynamic of that group. He’s going to run all day long, he’s going to keep that ball going.”
Sam Groth, Australian former professional: Novak Djokovic
“It’s easy for me, defending champion Novak Djokovic. He’s having a huge off-season at the moment. We’ve seen footage of him all over social media and all the training he’s doing. He was so devastating in that final last year against Rafa and it’s hard to go past him again.”
Jelena Dokic, Australian former professional: Rafael Nadal
“Rafa won here in 2009, he hasn’t won since, but he’s been in five finals. I feel like he’s been a little unlucky here in Australia, playing well but getting injured. I think he deserves to win more than anyone here. So I’ve got to go with Rafa.”
Vithun Illankovan, Last Word on Tennis: Novak Djokovic
“I do not believe Rafael Nadal has a chance of winning the Australian Open. No man in the Open Era has won every Grand Slam at least twice and I highly doubt the Tennis Gods would allow this to change. On the other hand, I think Novak Djokovic will retain his title. He has won the tournament seven times, which is more than anyone in the Open Era. Therefore, he seems like a safe bet to be victorious once again in Melbourne.”
Tennis Pro Guru: Novak Djokovic
“Everybody will talk about Daniil Medvedev. Is he the one who can break into the ‘three men’ zone? Can he beat Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer? Our answer is clear. His time will come but not in February 2020. Novak Djokovic will be again the winner of the Australian Open. Barring an unexpected injury, he will be prepared to beat anyone.”
Tim Henman, speaking to BBC Sport: Novak Djokovic
“I will go for Djokovic. I think his record is so good down under. He has got enough time for rest and recuperation that he is the man to beat.”
Predictions: women’s singles winner
Louis Sealey, Metro: Bianca Andreescu
“Bianca Andreescu has shown signs she can dominate the women’s game for the next decade. Her preparations for the Australian Open may not be ideal – she has been forced to pull out of Auckland with a knee problem – but you wouldn’t put it past her to still triumph in Melbourne.”
George Bellshaw, Metro: Naomi Osaka
“Like my esteemed colleague, Andreescu was the name rolling off my tongue for the first Slam title of the season but her continued injury struggles have made me think twice so I’ll go for defending champion Naomi Osaka, who looked to be finding her best form again late in 2019.”
Vithun Illankovan, Last Word on Tennis: Bianca Andreescu
“Andreescu in my eyes is Naomi Osaka 2.0, similar but new and improved. Both won Indian Wells and the US Open in their breakthrough seasons and I expect Andreescu to continue to follow in Osaka’s footsteps by backing up her US Open title with an Australian Open title straight afterwards.”
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Australian Open winner betting odds
Men’s singles champion
- Novak Djokovic: 6/4
- Rafael Nadal: 7/2
- Daniil Medvedev: 8/1
- Roger Federer: 9/1
- Stefanos Tsitsipas: 12/1
- Dominic Thiem: 14/1
- Alexander Zverev: 33/1
- Nick Kyrgios: 40/1
- See the full price list at Oddshecker.com
Women’s singles champion
- Serena Williams: 11/2
- Ashleigh Barty: 7/1
- Naomi Osaka: 8/1
- Simona Halep: 10/1
- Bianca Andreescu: 11/1
- Karolina Pliskova: 14/1
- Aryna Sabalenka: 20/1
- Elina Svitolina: 20/1
- See the full price list at Oddshecker.com