Australia Open - how to bet

The Australian Open is the first of four tennis tournaments that make up the Grand Slam. It was created in 1905, began playing in December and is currently held in January, except for three editions that were not carried out by the First World War (1916 to 1918), five others because of World War II (1941 to 1945) and one more in 1986, the year in which the championship went from being played in December to January. Although the venue of the event has changed several times throughout history, since 1972 it has been held in Melbourne and, since 1988, specifically in Melbourne Park.

Initially called the "Australian Championship", the first Grand Slam of the season was called the "Australian Open" in 1968, precisely when the so-called "Era Open" was established. This competition is played on hard surface (plexicushion), although at an earlier time was conducted on grass. While the single male category is the most attractive, there are others such as single female, doubles and mixed doubles, for example, which also have much prestige on the circuit.

A hot start

The Swiss Roger Federer is the reigning champion of the Australian Open, which, among other things, stands out for the high temperatures that dominate the scene in Melbourne during the month of January. So much so that, in many cases, the activity stops and resumes when conditions are given. When it comes to sports betting, it's the first big event of the year for tennis and sport lovers in general. In recent years, especially since the regulation of the game in 2012 (in Spain), tennis has established itself as one of the preferred places for bettors.

Tournament details

• Current name: Australian Open
• Surface: hard (plexicushion)
• Reigning champion (men): Roger Federer (Switzerland)
• Current champion (female): Serena Williams (USA)
• Next edition: 15 to 28 January 2018

Statistics and curiosities

• Before settling in Melbourne, this Grand Slam was played in six different places between Australia and New Zealand.
• Australian Ken Rosewall is the youngest champion among the knights (18 years and 2 months).
• The Swede Mats Wilander is the only tennis player who won the tournament both on grass (1983 and 1984) and on cement (1988).
• The Australian Roy Emerson is still the most successful in the history of the Australian Open with 6 titles, all obtained in the amateur era: 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967).
• Taking into account only the Open Era, Serbian Novak Djokovic leads the historical table of titles with 5 (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015), followed by Swiss Roger Federer with 4 (2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010).
• Among countries, Australia was by far the most successful with 50 wins (44 in the amateur stage and 6 in the professional stage). Behind is the United States with 18 (4 and 14).
• The history of the female individual in her Era Open has the American Serena Williams at the top with 6 titles: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2015.
• Due to the heat, several times the protagonist during the tournament, there is a rule that allows the judge to stop the game if the temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and/or the humidity reaches a certain percentage.
• Nearly 3,000 people work for the championship, including ball boys, drivers, ushers, chair judges, supply managers and scoreboard staff.
• Nearly 40,000 people visit Melbourne each January, generating revenue of some $60 million for the state of Victoria.

Read more Australia Open Statistics.