No splitting Murray and Djoker in 2017 Australian Open betting

THE air of invincibility that has surrounded Novak Djokovic for so long is just starting to clear.

And the punters are feeling it too, with online bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au unable to separate the superstar Serb and his Brit arch nemesis Andy Murray in the battle for January’s Australian Open.

Both players – ranked number one and number two in the world – are $2.63 each of two with the bookie to win the first grand slam of 2017.

And it’s been a big week for the Djoker, after he sacked his coach Boris Becker.

The pair has enjoyed a fruitful three year relationship, the 29 year old winning six grand slam titles and, at one point, holding all four majors at the same time.

“The goals we set when we started working together have been completely fulfilled,” Djokovic said.

“I want to thank him for the cooperation, teamwork, dedication and commitment.”

Becker said the decision was mutual.

“If somebody would have told us three years ago we are going to win six Grand Slams together, regain the number one spot in the world and just be the most dominant player, I would have signed up for that.”

No doubt.

But now the focus for the Djoker is finding a new coach, just over a month out for the Aus Open.

“My professional plans are now directed primarily to maintain a good level of play,” he said.

“And also to make a good schedule and new goals for the next season.”

Perennial top picks Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are way out at $23 and $21 – it’s a long time since we have seen odds as long as that about the two fading champions.

Aussie Nick Kyrgios’ controversial past few months left him with a long suspension and means he will start as a $34 outsider to win the Open.

But who knows what will happen after his tanking suspension is over.

He’s as unpredictable as they come, blessed with as much talent as any one on the circuit, but lacking the mental fortitude to put it all together.

He’s just as likely to bomb out in the first round as he is to go on and win it all.

He does have some serious support in his corner.

Former world number one Nadal says the Aussie firebrand can climb the mountain and be the best player in the world.

“Kyrgios is already at the top,” Nadal told News Corp.

“(He is) a player who has an unbelievable potential.

“He has focus on himself, and can become world No.1 and win a grand slam.

Kyrgios is the number one Aussie in the market, ahead of Bernard Tomic – all the way out at $101 – Thanassi Kokkinakis, at $201, and Sam Groth and John Millman – both at monstrous $501 odds.

In the women’s division, who else, but Serena Williams.

Arguably the greatest women’s tennis player of all time, Williams is the $2.88 favourite with Sportsbet.com.au to claim her Australian Open title.

But she will be starting from a way back, after missing nearly three months of tennis due to a shoulder injury.

Only Angelique Kerber, at $6, and Simona Halep ($9) are considered challengers to the superstar, with the rest of the market in double figures and beyond.

If you are looking to pick out an Aussie, our girls are a long way down in the betting for their home grand slam.

New Aussie golden girl Daria Gavrilova is in triple figures at $126 and the frustrating Sam Stosur is out at $151. There no others of note here.

Both girls were nominated for the Newcombe Medal last month, which was eventually won by inspiring wheelchair Olympic gold medallist Dylan Alcott.

Gavrilova has been the big mover in Australian tennis this year, rising from triple figures into the top 25.

It would be a shock if she won, but she has been building and might be worth a sneaky flier at long odds.

Check out all the markets for both the women’s and men’s tournament below.

Australian Open 2017 men’s tournament winner market

A Murray ($2.63)

N Djokovic ($2.63)

S Wawrinka ($13)

JM Del Potro ($17)

M Raonic ($19)

R Federer ($21)

R Nadal ($23)

K Nishikori ($26)

N Kyrgios ($34)

M Cilic ($51)

G Dimitrov ($67)

J-W Tsonga ($81)

T Berdych ($81)

D Thiem ($81)

G Monfils ($81)

A Zverev ($101)

R Bautista-Agut ($101)

S Johnson ($101)

B Tomic ($101)

K Anderson ($151)

J Isner ($151)

D Ferrer ($151)

G Simon ($151)

J Sock ($151)

D Goffin ($151)

J Vesely ($201)

J Sousa ($201)

V Pospisil ($201)

T Kokkinakis ($201)

B Coric ($201)

A Dolgopolov ($201)

B Paire ($201)

K Edmund ($301)

F Lopez ($301)

V Troicki ($301)

D Young ($401)

A Mannarino ($401)

S Groth ($501)

J Millman ($501)

L Mayer ($501)

O Anderson ($501)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Australian Open 2017 women’s tournament winner market

S Williams ($2.88)

A Kerber ($6)

S Halep ($9)

G Muguruza ($10)

P Kvitova ($11)

Ka Pliskova ($17)

M Keys ($26)

J Konta ($34)

A Radwanska ($34)

D Cibulkova ($34)

C Wozniacki ($41)

B Bencic ($41)

L Safarova ($41)

E Makarova ($51)

E Bouchard ($51)

S Stephens ($51)

V Williams ($67)

S Kuznetsova ($81)

J Ostapenko ($101)

A Ivanovic ($101)

K Mladenovic ($101)

C Suarez Navarro ($101)

C Garcia ($101)

E Svitolina ($101)

D Gavrilova ($126)

H Watson ($126)

S Lisicki ($126)

S Stosur ($151)

J Jankovic ($151)

A Petkovic ($151)

C Giorgi ($151)

S Errani ($151)

T Bacsinszky ($151)

R Vinci ($151)

L Robson ($151)

C Vandeweghe ($151)

A-K Schmiedlova ($251)

S Zhang ($276)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

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