Can Andy Murray build on a fantastic 2016 by finally winning his first ever Australian Open?

Men’s Singles
Murray has already got a win under his belt at the competition this year, beating Illya Marchenko in straight sets, though the Ukrainian did push the Scot harder than many would have expected. As is fitting for the world No. 1 Murray is favourite to win the Australian Open at a fixed odds price of 13/8, and an Outright Index spread of 33-36 (where the winner gets 60 points, the runner-up 40, the losing semi-finalists 20 etc). He faces Russia’s Andrey Rublev in the 2nd round.



Coming just behind Murray is, of course, Novak Djokovic, the man who has beaten the Scot in 4 of his 5 losing Australian Open finals. Djokovic’s Outright Index spread is a smidge lower at 32.5-35.5, but the defending champion has the same 13/8 fixed odds price as the Scot. He takes on Fernando Verdasco in the 1st round early hours of Tuesday morning, and sits at a Match Supremacy spread of 17.5-20.5.

Beyond the obvious top 2 there are a few players aiming for an upset this year. Despite being forced to 5 sets in his opening match US Open-winner Stan Wawrinka is at 12/1 with an Outright Index spread of 11-14, the same as world no. 3 Milos Raonic, who has a slightly worse fixed odds price of 14/1. Then we have the old guard; Rafael Nadal is at 14/1 with a spread of 10-13, just ahead of former sparring partner Roger Federer, who is coming back from the injury that kept him out of the Olympics with fixed odds of 16/1 with a spread of 8-11.

Women’s Singles
While Murray and Djokovic dominate the men’s singles, things are a bit more competitive over on the women’s side of the draw. Defending champion Angelique Kerber may head into the competition as world no. 1, but Serena Williams is the one with the best fixed odds and Outright Index spread; Williams is at 21.5-24.5 to Kerber’s 20.5-23.5, with fixed odds of 11/4 to 7/2 respectively.



Between them the pair took 3 of 2016’s 4 Gram Slam Titles – Kerber bookended the year with Aussie and US open wins (the former against Williams), while the US legend beat the German at Wimbledon. While Kerber is already through to the 2nd round Williams begins her competition on Tuesday, where she takes on Belinda Bencic with a Match Supremacy spread of 10.5-13.5.

Looking to disrupt the top 2 is US Open runner-up Karolina Pliskova, who is at 7/1 with a spread of 11.5-14.5. Pliskova kicks off the competition at midnight against Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo, and has a Match Supremacy spread of 16.5-18.5. Then there is Agneiszka Radwanska, with fixed odds of 12/1 and an Outright Index spread of 10-13, alongside French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, at 11/1 and 9.5-12.5. Aussie-born Brit Johanna Konta’s stock has also risen in the last few weeks, her Sydney International win over Radwanska leaving her at 7-9 with fixed odds of 14/1. Someone who won’t be breaking up the women’s sort of duopoly, however, is 4th seed Simona Halep, who fell at the first hurdle against America’s Shelby Rogers.