Ricky Dimon
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With Novak Djokovic hogging all of the headlines Down Under, there has been little discussion of the women’s side at the Australian Open. As controversy rages, resulting in a ton of uncertainty surrounding the men’s tournament, it is much easier to analyze the women’s field of 128. Sure we don’t know who is going to win, but at least we know what we’re working with.
Let’s take a look at the odds and the best bets in advance of Monday’s start to the first tennis Grand Slam of 2022.
Australian Open women’s singles odds
Ashleigh Barty +275
Naomi Osaka +700
Garbine Muguruza +1100
Iga Swiatek +1200
Simona Halep +1400
Anett Kontaveit +1500
Elena Rybakina +1600
Barbora Krejcikova +1600
Paula Badosa +1800
Coco Gauff +2000
Aryna Sabalenka +2000
Victoria Azarenka +2500
Leylah Fernandez +3000
Amanda Ansimova +3500
Madison Keys +3500
Emma Raducanu +3500
2022 Australian Open Prediction: Ashleigh Barty (+275)
Barty has never won the Australian Open, but she has reached at least the quarterfinals on three consecutive occasions. The two-time Grand Slam champion has played well at home in front of the Aussie crowd in the past and that is exactly what she did last week in Adelaide. Barty’s preparation for the Australian Open was perfect, as she won both the Adelaide singles and doubles titles. Odds of +275 aren’t great, but the world No. 1 is a heavy favorite for a reason.
2022 Australian Open best bet: Simona Halep (+1400)
Halep is a better bet when you can get her all the way at +1400. Like Barty, Halep is a two-time slam champion with triumphs at the French Open at Wimbledon. Don’t think for a second that the Romanian is past her prime at 30 years old; she comes in at No. 15 in the world and she would be ranked even higher if not for injury issues in 2021. She just won a title last week in Melbourne, too. Halep’s last four Aussie Open results are runner-up, fourth round, quarterfinals, and semifinals. All that’s left is a title. She just might do it.
2022 Australian Open longshot: Coco Gauff (+2000)
Is 17 years old too young to win a Grand Slam? Well, 18-year-old Emma Raducanu just won the U.S. Open and in the final she beat 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez. Even at 17, Gauff has way more experience than either Raducanu or Fernandez had going into last season’s festivities in New York. A title for Gauff at Melbourne Park would be far less shocking than what the two other teenagers produced at the U.S. Open. The American was the only player to take a set off Barty in Adelaide and then she reached the semifinals of her next tournament, losing to eventual champion Madison Keys 7-5 in the third set. The future is now.
2022 Australian Open deep sleeper: Maria Sakkari (+5000)
Sakkari surged into the semifinals at two of the four Grand Slams last season. She came within one point of reaching the French Open championship match. Making the jump to become a major winner really isn’t asking too much, and getting her at +5000 is an absolute steal. The fifth-seeded Greek capped off her 2021 campaign by advancing to the semis of the prestigious year-end championship. This is basically a home tournament for Sakkari, too, as the Greek support in Australia is always raucous. There is a lot to like about her for this fortnight – including the generous odds.
Make sure you also check out our best bets for the 2022 Australian Open men’s singles!
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