Favourites Look Set To Progress Through Aussie Openers

Things look rosy for the big guns after the draw for the first round of the Australian Open men singles tournament. All of the top seeds are expected to pass through the first stage of the competition with flying colours, the top rated player with the toughest test being Rafael Nadal who faces former Russian number one and one-time competition quarter-finalist Mikhail Youzhny.

The pair have met on 15 previous occasions in ATP competitions since 2004 with Nadal, the 1/7 favourite for Monday`s clash with Betvictor, getting the better of his opponent eleven times. As a result, boylesports make Youzhny 13/2 to improve his record to the tune of five from 16.

There might prove to be value in this price, however, as the pair`s head-to-head on hard court surfaces is much closer indeed, Nadal being only 5-4 to the good. What will also be a comfort to supporters of the Spaniard is that the world number three has taken the last two matches to turn the head-to-head record in his favour. The last of these occasions came in the quarter final of the Doha Open in 2012, Nadal winning 6-4, 6-4.

Nadal got the beating of his Russian rival, ranked 47th in the world, in their only previous Australian Open encounter. Youzhny took Nadal to five sets in the first round of the competition back in 2005 but was eventually defeated 6-1, 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. william hill`s 11/2 says that the match won`t reach five sets once again.

Twelve to five (Spreadex) says the encounter will be played out over four sets whilst it`s 20/23 to see the two fight out a three set match.

In other news, world number one Novak Djokovic is expected to get an easy ride against Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, Roger Federer faces off against 31-year-old Yen-Hsun Lu and Andy Murray will kick start his search for his third Grand Slam title with a match against Indian youngster Yuki Bhambri.

Most bookmakers are offering 1/100 on Djokovic overcoming 25-year-old Bendene in the pair`s first ever on-court encounter. Ranked 116th in the world, Slovenian Bendene is 28/1 (boylesports) to spring an unwelcome surprise on the tournament favourite.

Indeed, 888sport have priced up the underdog at 11/2 to even win a set with the most popular category in the set betting market being a Djokovic 3-0 trouncing of his rival. This is available at 1/4 with betfair.

Federer last met Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei in the quarter-final of Germany`s Halle competition and defeated his opposite number 6-3, 7-5. The 17-time Grand Slam champion and tournament second favourite is 1/33 with a number of bookmakers to continue his unbeaten record over the experienced Lu, whose best finish down under was when reaching the third round in both 2009 and 2012.

Lu is a 22/1 shot to defeat the Swiss with boylesports.

Home hope Andy Murray is 1/40 (Titanbet) to progress through to the second round after drawing Bhambri of India.

One of the lowest ranked competitors remaining in the tournament following the qualification stage, Murray`s opponent is best priced 22/1 (bet365, Boylesports) to break British hearts. He is 3/1 with ladbrokes to just win a set. Last year`s champion Stan Wawrinka will begin the defence of his crown against world number 99 Marsel Ilhan of Turkey.

The 27-year-old Turk has just broken into the top 100 in the world but can be backed at 18/1 (boylesports) to send the Swiss number two packing in the opening stage proper. Wawrinka can be backed at 1/40 (betfred, Stan James) to defeat his first obstacle in title retention and is a 4/11 (Boylesports) to do it without dropping a set.

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17/01/2015     © Frixo 2026