World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is the betting favorite to defend his 2024 Australian Open title when the men’s portion of the Australian Open begins on Monday in Melbourne, Australia.
Several men in the draw aim to spoil the Italian's chances, including Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
Join me as I take a closer look at who’s hot and who’s not, and some sleepers I believe can make a deep run Down Under.
Australian Open 2025 men's singles odds
| Player |  |
|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner | +120 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | +350 |
| Novak Djokovic | +550 |
| Alexander Zverev | +1200 |
| Daniil Medvedev | +1600 |
| Taylor Fritz | +3000 |
| Alex De Minaur | +5000 |
| Joao Fonseca | +5000 |
| Jack Draper | +6000 |
| Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard | +7000 |
Odds as of 1-9.
Australian Open 2025 Men's favorites
Who's hot
Jannik Sinner (+120 at DraftKings)
2024 Australian Open champ Jannik Sinner might be the betting favorite to win, but he may not be the people's choice after facing a possible lengthy suspension after failing two consecutive PEDS tests last March
He lost twice on asphalt to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz (semis at Indian Wells and finals at Beijing), but those were his only significant hardcourt losses in 2024.
With Alcaraz on the other end of the sheet, his stiffest challenge to reaching his second-consecutive AO final could come from Alex de Minaur in the quarters and possibly Taylor Fritz or Daniil Medvedev in the semis.
Carlos Alcaraz (+350 at Caesars)
Whatever Sinner didn’t win in 2024, Carlos Alcaraz did. The Spanish No. 1 pulled off the European Double (French Open, Wimbledon) but crashed out in the AO quarters and second round of the US Open.
Alcaraz has a tough row to hoe to get out of his quarter. His problems could begin as early as Round 3 against Jack Draper, and he'd likely face 10-time AO champ Novak Djokovic in the quarters and maybe Alexander Zverev on the second Friday.
Who's not
Novak Djokovic (+550 at BetMGM)
The 10-time Australian Open champ and former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic didn’t win a single ATP Tour title in 2024 and was shellacked by Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
He did win the coveted Gold Medal in Paris, but that was it. Still, Joker has a difficult path to major No. 25, beginning with red-hot American Nishesh Basavareddy and Alcaraz looming in the quarters.
Australian Open 2025 Men's sleepers
Players to watch
Taylor Fritz (+3100 at FanDuel)
US Open and ATP Tour finalist Taylor Fritz is tough to beat. His massive serve and forehands, combined with an elite-level return game, make him a formidable opponent.
Fritz opens with fellow American Jenson Brooksby and has a potentially dicey third-rounder with Mpetsi-Perricard. Still, Fritz can win it all if he finds a way past his fourth-round encounter with former champ and 2024 runner-up Daniil Medvedev.
Alexander Zverev (+1200 at DraftKings)
German Alexander Zverev is the best active player not to win a major. He’s reached a couple of finals and is uber dangerous behind his big serve and relentless forehand with arguably the best two-handed backhand in the game.
Zverev has a dream draw he should get through without many hiccups. All that’s standing in the German’s way from reaching the second weekend is a little luck and Ugo Humbert with possibly Alcaraz in the quarters.
Jiri Lehecka (+15000 at DraftKings)
Mid-season injuries hampered what was shaping into a career year for Czech No. 1 Jiri Lehecka. He won his first title of 2025 in Brisbane and can dominate opponents from both sides, even though he only wins 19% of his return games.
Lehecka is 8-3 lifetime at the AO. He opens with a Wild Card recipient and likely meets Grigor Dimitrov in the third, followed by a potential slugfest he can win against Djokovic. Lehecka has the game to go all the way, and with some luck, he just might.
Australian Open long shots to avoid
Nick Kyrgios (+13000 at FanDuel)
Nick Kyrgios has missed most of the last two years with a wrist injury. He’s played some exhibitions recently, but his first-round loss to big-serving Giovanni Mpetsi Perricard in Brisbane highlighted his extreme talent and how far he needs to go to return to the Top 10.
He opens with big-serving Jacob Fearnley, and if he gets through that match, the sore wrist and rust will likely see his run end in the second round by either Sebastian Baez or Arthur Cazaux.
