Features

Tennis back in the spotlight

Author: John Harris
Date: 18/01/2010
Tennis betting

The 2010 tennis season kicks quickly into top gear with the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

Last year's tournament saw Rafael Nadal take the men's title after an epic five-set victory over Roger Federer, becoming the first Spaniard to take the title with a 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 triumph.

Who will rule the roost at Melbourne Park? - Latest Tennis Betting

This time around Nadal could again be the man to beat, having finally overcome the long-standing knee problems which blighted him for much of the season following his success Down Under.

His victory in Melbourne last year was a major breakthrough on hard courts and Nadal will be as tough a nut as ever to crack this time around.

The Spanish left-hander recently reached the final at the Qatar Open before being beaten by Nikolay Davydenko, who had downed Federer in the last four.

In fact, the Russian will be favoured in the online betting markets, having started the new season in fine style after ending the last campaign with victory at the ATP World Tour finals in London.

Davydenko has yet to win a Grand Slam title and surely his time is now if he is ever to break that duck.

Meanwhile, online betting favourite Federer can never be discounted, despite having little to prove after securing a record 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last summer.

The Swiss maestro has however been less dominant in Australia than elsewhere, winning the title on a mere three occasions, the last of which came in 2007.

However, he is on a run of seven consecutive Grand Slam finals, just at a time in his career when many pundits thought he might start to struggle.

World number three Novak Djokovic took the honours in Australia in 2008, but since then the Serb has failed to build on a major breakthrough and will have to raise his game if he is to upset the applecart again.

Last year his best showing came at the US Open, where he reached the last four before being dismissed in straight sets by Federer.

However, Federer was to be denied in the final by Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro, who announced himself as a major new star with a superb 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 win over the hot favourite.

The test now for Del Potro will be whether he can repeat his displays at Flushing Meadows and challenge for honours again.

All of which leaves Andy Murray looking less likely than he has been for a while as a possible Grand Slam winner.

The Scot, now down to five in the world rankings, has never made it past the fourth round in Melbourne and is now finding favour among punters for success this year.

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