The primary Grand Slam of the yr is upon us and the Australian Open guarantees to ship epic motion and storylines. Two-time defending ladies’s champion Aryna Sabalenka will try a three-peat which has eluded the sport’s greatest because the dominant days of Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and, most just lately, Martina Hingis in 1997-99. She’ll seemingly must beat two of Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina to take action.
On the lads’s facet, Novak Djokovic and his 10 titles loom giant, however 23-year-old Jannik Sinner is the defending champion and the way forward for males’s tennis alongside 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz. The 2025 Australian Open begins Sunday in Melbourne. You possibly can learn extra about it, or we will get all the way down to the enterprise of predicting winners, in addition to getting an odds-on take from our tennis wagering consultants.
Who do you assume will win the ladies’s singles title, and why?
Rennae Stubbs: I believe Coco Gauff can do it. Her confidence is sky-high. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see who will get by way of the highest half of the draw between Aryna Sabalenka and Gauff, however whoever does is my favourite and I believe it is Coco’s time.
Jarryd Barca: I believe we’ll witness historical past. It is prone to be the favored — and maybe boring — reply, but it surely’s exhausting to go previous present world No. 1 Sabalenka, who’s seeking to declare a 3rd consecutive Australian Open title. It is a feat no lady has achieved this century, and it is the stress of that monumental milestone that might show to be her largest problem. However the 26-year-old has a robust report Down Below, successful her previous 5 tournaments there, and in just lately successful the Brisbane Worldwide, she enters the primary Grand Slam of the yr in prime kind, which is strictly what you need to see from a predominant contender.
Invoice Connelly: It is tempting to go together with Gauff, who is likely to be probably the most in-form participant on tour. She’s 18-2, with a pair of wins over Iga Swiatek, since her loss to Emma Navarro on the US Open. However I am not one to choose in opposition to a streak. It has been nearly three years since Sabalenka misplaced on the Australian Open (and it took a third-set match tiebreaker from ultimate-underdog Kaia Kanepi to even knock her out in 2022). Sabalenka dropped just one set in Brisbane in her first 2025 match, pummeling Mirra Andreeva, her potential fourth-round opponent and the one participant to beat her in a Slam final yr, within the course of. She’s the definitive favourite.
D’Arcy Maine: Regardless of a tricky draw, I am nonetheless going with Gauff. After switching issues up along with her crew and her recreation following her fourth-round exit on the US Open, the 20-year-old American has reclaimed her standing as among the best on tour. And he or she’s proven she’s able to beating nearly anybody. On the WTA Finals in November, Gauff defeated top-ranked Sabalenka within the semifinals and No. 2 Swiatek within the group stage — each in straight units — en path to the trophy. She’s hardly slowed down within the new yr. On the season-opening United Cup, Gauff received all 5 of her singles matches, together with one other decisive victory over Swiatek within the closing, as she led the USA to the title. With an improved serve and grip, and surging with momentum and self-belief, Gauff has every part it takes to win her second main singles title this month in Melbourne.
Jake Michaels: It actually seems like there is just one appropriate reply to this query: Sabalenka. The world No. 1 is the unquestioned greatest hard-court participant on the ladies’s tour, having received three of the previous 4 majors on the floor, together with the previous two Australian Open titles. She is in prime kind, having simply romped to victory on the Brisbane Worldwide final month, and few could be stunned if in two weeks’ time she’s hoisting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup as soon as once more.
Matt Walsh: Sabalenka is the logical alternative — she’s simply so good right here — however I will break rank right here and throw help behind Zheng Qinwen. She was superior in Melbourne in 2024, making the ultimate earlier than taking place to Sabalenka, and is ranked fifth right here this yr. After a closing in Wuhan late final yr, a gold medal at Paris, and the quarters on the US Open on the final Slam of the yr … may she be priming for a run Down Below?
Who do you assume will win the lads’s singles title, and why?
Stubbs: Sinner is my favourite. I believe the courtroom is ideal for him and I simply imagine his total confidence will likely be exhausting to beat for anybody.
Barca: Alcaraz is chasing the ultimate piece of his puzzle and has a profession Grand Slam on his thoughts, with the Australian Open the one main that has continued to elude him. The 21-year-old had a fantastic 2024 marketing campaign, successful the French Open and Wimbledon and claiming Olympic silver in Paris, whereas additionally defeating Sinner to win the China Open in Beijing. His second-round US Open exit does increase questions, and his end to the yr was hardly eyebrow-raising, however this man’s expertise continues to be simple. After final yr’s quarterfinal run, it seems like a deeper push this yr is inevitable for one of many sport’s brightest stars.
Connelly: First issues first: It is nice to have Alcaraz and Sinner on reverse sides of the draw once more! For 3 straight Slams they have been in the identical half, and their solely Slam assembly got here within the French Open semis. They’re the 2 largest stars within the sport in the intervening time, and we’re nonetheless ready on the primary Alcaraz-Sinner Slam closing. It will be nice for the game once we truly get it, and contemplating Alcaraz went 3-0 in opposition to Sinner throughout Sinner’s breakout season in 2024, it is truthful to assume he would possibly win that matchup.
However I am selecting Sinner to repeat, just because he is extra prone to attain the ultimate within the first place. For one factor, Alcaraz battled inconsistency points final yr. For an additional, every part has clicked for Sinner. He is one of the best hard-courter on the earth and he received a fantastic draw, not that he wanted it.
Maine: Earlier than the draw got here out, I had been leaning towards Djokovic making historical past on the match with longtime rival-turned-coach Andy Murray by his facet. However then the bracket was launched, and with it his extremely difficult projected path, and let’s simply say my sentimentality and the vibes modified dramatically. I merely do not see him having the ability to get previous the potential trio of Alcaraz (quarters), Alexander Zverev (semis) and Sinner (closing) at this stage of his profession. So, that mentioned, I am selecting Sinner right here, largely as a result of he has a extra favorable draw. Daniil Medvedev or Taylor Fritz may very well be difficult within the semis, however he had little drawback in opposition to both in 2024. He was capable of block the surface noise on the US Open and, if he can do the identical this time round, defending his title is effectively inside attain.
Michaels: Every part in my bones is telling me Sinner deserves his Australian Open favoritism and can seemingly go back-to-back Down Below, however how are you going to ever guess in opposition to Djokovic? Final yr was a “down” yr for the Serb, but he nonetheless made the Wimbledon closing and received that elusive Olympic gold medal. Being only one main title away from an outright report 25 Slam triumphs, you already know motivation will likely be as excessive as ever. And, oh yeah, he is been fairly useful at this match all through the years!
Walsh: It is powerful to defend a Slam title, and there is going to be much more consideration on Sinner after his doping case. Alcaraz has struggled right here, Medvedev is flying into Melbourne late after the delivery of his second youngster, and Djokovic is 37. Who else is a real risk within the prime 10? Zverev? Fritz, Casper Ruud, or Alex De Minaur? I get the sensation this may very well be the yr that somebody shocks the match for a primary Slam win. Perhaps it’s going to be Zverev.
What’s your greatest guess for the lads’s facet and why?
Maldonado: Novak Djokovic to achieve closing (+230)
Djokovic enters because the third favourite however stays a robust contender for an unprecedented eleventh title. The Serbian legend, with an ideal 10-0 report in Australian Open finals, now has Andy Murray as his coach. Murray’s distinctive perspective as a former prime participant and longtime rival may present contemporary methods to boost Djokovic’s recreation. Regardless of a difficult 2024 season, Djokovic’s starvation for a twenty fifth Grand Slam title endures. With Murray’s insights and Djokovic’s dominance in Melbourne, this partnership may spark one other historic triumph.
Snellings: Djokovic (+550)
That is nonetheless the Joker’s home, and even with the powerful draw, if he will get previous Alcaraz to make the ultimate, I do not assume he stops there. With the retirement of Rafael Nadal and his inevitability at Roland Garros, there’s not a single participant on the tour with the kind of dominance at any Grand Slam like Djokovic has on the Australian Open. He has received 10 of the previous 13 occasions he has performed the occasion, together with 4 of his previous 5. Djokovic reportedly had a fever the night time earlier than his semifinal loss final season, and was not allowed to compete in 2022 attributable to his COVID vaccination standing, however aside from that he has received each Australian Open since 2019. Whereas there are two younger lions on tour establishing their very own supremacy within the post-Massive Three period, till Djokovic retires I’ll have him as my favourite to win the Australian Open. And him getting extra juice than the opposite two favorites would not harm, both.
What’s your greatest guess for the ladies’s facet and why?
Maldonado: Aryna Sabalenka to win (+200)
Sabalenka has dominated Melbourne, successful the previous two titles, and now boasts three consecutive hard-court main wins, together with the 2024 US Open. Sabalenka has improved her recreation considerably, lowering double faults to a profession low and attaining a profession excessive in first-serve proportion. With titles in Cincinnati, Wuhan and the Brisbane Worldwide, she’s in peak kind. Her odds provide worth for a participant poised to make historical past with a 3rd consecutive Melbourne triumph.
Snellings: Sabalenka to win (+200
Sabalenka appears to have a particular affinity for the Australian Open. She has received the previous two Opens in dominant trend, dropping solely a single set in 2023 and never shedding any units final yr. Sabalenka entered 2025 because the No. 1 participant on the earth, the primary time she has ever achieved that, and has already received the Brisbane Worldwide title to begin the yr. Along with her overwhelming energy, plus the added confidence after successful a number of majors, Sabalenka is within the driver’s seat to win her third straight title in Melbourne. And he or she’s getting sufficient juice at 2-to-1 odds that backing her now would return stable worth. I anticipate she’ll be the odds-on favourite by the beginning of Week 2.
What’s your favourite lengthy shot guess to win the ladies’s title and why?
Maldonado: Zheng Qinwen (+1400)
The 22-year-old reached the 2024 closing, proving her capability on Melbourne’s courts. Her breakout yr included Olympic gold, three singles titles and a WTA Finals look, ending the season ranked world No. 5. Identified for her highly effective serve and a potent forehand, Zheng combines aggressive play with enhancing consistency and tactical consciousness. Skipping the United Cup to give attention to Melbourne highlights her dedication. At +1400, her odds provide worth for a participant on the rise with a confirmed report in high-stakes matches.
Snellings: Jessica Pegula (+2800)
Pegula is getting an terrible lot of juice for a participant along with her résumé on exhausting courts. Pegula misplaced a hard-fought 7-5, 7-5 match to Sabalenka within the Finals of the 2024 US Open, which got here on the heels of her successful one WTA 1000 occasion (Canadian Open) and making the finals of one other (Cincinnati Open) on exhausting courts. And whereas she misplaced early in final yr’s Australian Open, she has had extra success in Melbourne than at every other Slam, with three straight quarterfinals appearances from 2021 by way of 2023. Pegula has proven she will compete and win on exhausting courts on the highest ranges, which makes her 28-to-1 odds sturdy worth for these seeking to again an extended shot with an opportunity to win.
What’s your favourite lengthy shot guess to win the lads’s title and why?
Snellings: Daniil Medvedev (+1600)
Medvedev has been knocking on the door to win the Australian Open for years now, coming tantalizingly shut a number of occasions whereas constantly giving himself possibilities. Medvedev has performed in three of the previous 4 Australian Open finals, shedding to a few completely different champions. Djokovic stopped him in three units in 2021, however in each 2022 (Rafael Nadal) and 2024 (Sinner), Medvedev pushed the ultimate to 5 units. His size, use of energy and angles, and a shocking quickness on protection make him very tough to beat on exhausting courts. He received the 2021 US Open, has six finals appearances between the Australian and US Opens, and has received a number of Masters 1000-level occasions on the floor. And he has the expertise and recreation to look any of the favorites within the eye and anticipate to defeat them. He’s worth at +1600, as one of many few gamers I imagine has a official probability to win this occasion.
Maldonado: Taylor Fritz (+2000)
Fritz is a robust contender for majors, not only a “why not” candidate. He showcased wonderful kind by successful the 2025 United Cup with Group USA and reached the 2024 US Open closing, proving his Grand Slam potential. Attaining a career-high rating of world No. 4 and breaking into the ATP prime 5 spotlight his upward trajectory. Fritz excels in five-set matches and thrives in Melbourne’s California-like situations. His improved explosiveness and confidence place him as a official risk for any main title.
