Djokovic vs Paul Australian Open Betting Odds, Schedule, and Forecast
Down to the nitty-gritty! Novak Djokovic's run at the 2023 Australian Open doesn't seem to have any roadblocks, not even Tommy Paul standing in his way. Bookies have slapped Djokovic with crazy-short odds (-1667) to beat Paul in their semifinal battle. But don't fret! There are better markets to dabble in.
Let's dive into those markets, share our top predictions, and try our luck at picking some winners.
Novak Djokovic vs Tommy Paul: The Lowdown
The tournament might as well hand Djokovic the trophy now, considering the favorites that have fallen by the wayside. Apart from the Serbian tennis titan, players like Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Nick Kyrgios, and Rafael Nadal won't be on the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on January 27, 2023, at about 3:30 AM ET. If you're watching at home, tune in to ESPN or catch the livestream on fuboTV.
Djokovic Dominating Down Under
When the odds for the Australian Open first popped up about two months ago, Djokovic was the top dog with odds of +110. Alcaraz and Medvedev were close behind, each priced at +400, followed by Kyrgios with +650 and Nadal at +800.
Injuries have since knocked those players out of the tournament, making Djokovic an even stronger contender to take the crown, with outright AO odds of -556.
He's expected to waltz past Paul, but will he do it with the same efficiency he did against Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinal, taking him down 3-0 (6-1, 6-2, 6-4)?
Enzo Couacaud, ranked ATP No. 191, was the only player who managed to win a set against Djokovic in this tournament, taking the second set 7-6 in games after a 7-5 tiebreaker in Round 2.
Can Tommy Paul Steal a Set (or Two) from Djokovic?
Paul has never faced Djokovic before in his professional career, but he's tussled with many big-name players. Last year, he took on both Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, beating them both 2-1 in sets.
So far in 2023, Paul is 6-1 overall, with five victories at the Australian Open. He's had a relatively easy ride so far, with the highest-ranked opponent he's beaten being Roberto Bautista-Agut (ATP No. 25).
While we don't think Paul can defeat Djokovic in his favorite tournament, we do believe he has a decent chance to win at least one set. Knowing that he's almost guaranteed not to reach the Australian Open Final, Paul might decide to put it all on the line against Djokovic.
Our Prediction
Djokovic has been nursing an injury throughout this tournament, reportedly taking a truckload of pills to manage the pain. He's been playing out of his mind, but the question remains: How long can he keep up this high-voltage performance?
We predict that, to ensure avoidance of issues in the final, Djokovic may opt to ease off against Paul, even if that means not dominating the match.
Betting Pick: Back Tommy Paul to win +8.5 games.
In the upcoming semifinal encounter, Novak Djokovic seems likely to maintain his dominance with odds of -1667 against Tommy Paul, but bookies offer more intriguing market possibilities. If you're watching the semifinal match at the 2023 Australian Open on ESPN or fuboTV, keep an eye on the total games Won by Tommy Paul market. Despite Djokovic's form, there's potential for Paul to win over 8.5 games in the encounter, given his previous victories against big-name players and the unexpected nature of the tennis court.
