The Novak Djokovic saga Down Under ramped up again after the Australian government decided to cancel his visa for a second time Friday. The Serbian star – also fondly likened to Spartacus and Jesus Christ by his nearest and dearest – is purportedly weighing up his options and intending to challenge the decision in court. Again.

And why wouldn’t he? After all, he won his first challenge earlier this week to have his visa reinstated – a triumph that caused a second wave of anger within the Australian public, met with mixed reviews around the world, and, inadvertently turned him into the poster child for the anti-vaxxer movement.

So, once again, in a nutshell, the world’s wealthiest proletariat hero’s participation at the 2022 Australian Open hangs in the balance of a judge’s decision. When that decision will take place remains to be seen, but time isn’t really on the world No.1’s side as the tournament begins on Monday, Jan. 17 in Melbourne.

The Australian Open drew Djokovic into the tournament as the top seed, even though the government’s decision was pending at the time. As a result, multiple top sportsbooks are offering odds for Djokovic to win the 2022 Australian Open. Hope springs eternal, so they say.

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FanDuel is offering the best price for Djokovic at +170, while Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings both tip Djokovic at +150. The lowest price on the tennis odds board is with BetMGM, where Djokovic is pegged at +135.

But, in the salient words of Dan Andrews, Premier of Victoria, "this tournament is much bigger than any one person". So it’s probably best to look beyond the Serbian in tennis betting markets. The field is packed with veterans, former grand slam champions, solid players, and rising stars of the game. Easily, within this vast group of players, the next Australian Open champion may well be contained.

2022 Australian Open Men's Odds

Odds via DraftKings ➜ and accurate as of publication.

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2022 Australian Open Men's Top Contenders

Daniil Medvedev

Odds: +300 at BetMGM ➜

World No.2 Daniil Medvedev is the last player to win a grand slam title, beating Novak Djokovic in a straight-set final at the U.S. Open. It was Medvedev’s first major title but third final. As the second seed at the Australian Open this year – and potentially top seed in the draw if Djokovic is indeed booted out of Australia – bookmakers are giving the Russian the second-best odds on betting apps to win the title.

In some cases, amidst all the uncertainty surrounding Djokovic, Medvedev is the top bet. Medvedev is priced as low as +125 with PointsBet and as high as +300 with BetMGM.

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Rafael Nadal

Odds: +900 at DraftKings ➜

It’s not often one sees a 20-time grand slam champion priced so high. On that score alone, Nadal’s odds are worth a tickle. Nadal is chasing a 21st grand slam title, and while the Australian Open hasn’t been his most successful in terms of the win column, he’s been to the final five times and won it once.

Nadal’s 2021 season ended prematurely last summer with the Spaniard bowing out at the start of the U.S. Open series with a foot injury. His form was a question mark going into 2022, but he assuaged some of those doubts by winning his first title at the ATP 250 Melbourne.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas

Odds: +2000 at Caesars Sportsbook ➜

Stefanos Tsitsipas has seen his tennis odds swell since the start of the season, largely down to the uncertainty surrounding his fitness ahead of the Australian Open. Tsitsipas saw limited action at the ATP Cup where he represented Greece in the round-robin stage. He got a few matches under his belt.

Tsitsipas reached the semis of the Australian Open last year after beating Nadal in a five-set marathon in the quarterfinals. Tsitsipas falls into the third quarter opposite another up-and-coming player, Norway’s Casper Ruud, who is priced at +4000.

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Alexander Zverev

Odds: +600 at BetMGM ➜

Germany’s Alexander Zverev ranks No.3 in the world, but it would seem he’s coasting under the radar at the sportsbook exchange. Zverev capped his 2021 campaign with the ATP World Tour Finals victory, beating Djokovic in the semis and Medvedev in the final. The German was tipped for grand slam glory from the moment he burst onto the scene almost ten years ago (2013).

Now, at 24 years of age, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before he makes his long-awaited breakthrough. His lone foray into a grand slam final was at the 2020 U.S. Open (l. to Nadal). As it so happens, Zverev and Nadal were drawn together into the second quarter of this draw.

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Best Australian Open Long shots & Value Bets

Matteo Berrettini

Odds: +4800 at DraftKings ➜

Italy’s Matteo Berrettini reached his first-ever grand slam final at Wimbledon last year (l. to Djokovic). Hard courts aren’t his best surface, but he falls into the first quarter of the Australian Open draw this year – a section that might be vacated by the departure of Djokovic. Should that happen, Berrettini’s value is likely to soar as a result.

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Felix Auger-Aliassime

Odds: +5500 at FanDuel ➜

Canada’s rising star, Felix Auger-Aliassime is a player to spot, and one that could potentially do some damage in the draw. Aliassime is coming off an ATP Cup win with Canada, alongside fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov (who is priced at +3300 with BetMGM in Aussie Open futures). He falls into the fourth quarter, which is spearheaded by Medvedev and bookended by another Russian to spot, Andrey Rublev.

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Andrey Rublev

Odds: +3300 at Caesars Sportsbook ➜

World No.5 Andrey Rublev is a dangerous floater that can do some damage in his section of the draw. But he falls into the fourth quarter, opposite his compatriot Medvedev. If the draw goes to plan, Rublev would need to get past Medvedev to reach the semis.

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Australian Open Outsiders To Consider

Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis is a player who isn’t taking anything for granted after returning to the ATP Tour following a lengthy absence due to injury. He comes into the Australian Open in good form having gone deep in back-to-back events in Adelaide.

Gael Monfils (+20000 with PointsBet) is an outsider to win the Australian Open title. The veteran has never won a major in his career, but he comes into the tournament riding solid form after winning the title in Adelaide.

Former grand slam champion Andy Murray (+8500) is the quintessential long shot to win the Australian Open title, even though his championship pedigree is undeniable. Murray has reached 11 grand slam finals in his career, winning three. He made five Aussie Open finals, losing to Roger Federer (once) and Djokovic (four times). Betting on Murray to win the 2022 Australian Open would be a sentimental bet, but what’s wrong with a little bit of soppy?