The seeds for the year’s first Grand Slam were announced today. Below is a list of the 32 seeds in the Men’s Singles draw, along with each player’s odds, taken from Bovada. I’ll have a full preview out sometime after the draws are set.
Novak Djokovic (SRB) +120
Rafael Nadal (ESP) +700
Roger Federer (SUI) +500
Alexander Zverev (GER) +800
Kevin Anderson (RSA) +4000
Marin Cilic (CRO) +2000
Dominic Thiem (AUT) +2500
Kei Nishikori (JPN) +3300
John Isner (USA) +6600
Karen Khachanov (RUS) +2500
Borna Coric (CRO) +5000
Fabio Fognini (ITA) +20000
Kyle Edmund (GBR) +6600
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) +4000
Daniil Medvedev (RUS) +6600
Milos Raonic (CAN) +3300
Marco Cecchinato (ITA) Odds not listed
Diego Schwartzman (ARG) Odds not listed
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) +10000
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) +5000
David Goffin (BEL) +5000
Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) +80000
Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) +10000
Chung Hyeon (KOR) +4000
Denis Shapovalov (CAN) +4000
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) +25000
Alex de Minaur (AUS) +12500
Lucas Pouille (FRA) +15000
Gilles Simon (FRA) Odds not listed
Gael Monfils (FRA) +15000
Steve Johnson (USA) +20000
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) Odds not listed
I’ll have to wait to see the draws before making more detailed predictions. Djokovic being the favorite is no surprise. You can never count out Federer or Nadal. However, Federer isn’t getting any younger, but you can’t discount the fact that he’s coming off back-to-back Aussie Open titles. As for Nadal, he’s still on the injury recovery path. So if not one of the Big 3, then who? I want to say Zverev, but he still has yet to make a Grand Slam semi-final; he’s advanced into the quarter-finals exactly one time. The talent is clearly there, but I can’t let myself back him until he proves something.
That would leave both Cilic and Thiem as strong contenders, and I like Khachanov here. If you’re looking for a true dark horse, how about Tsitsipas or Coric. But these thoughts are of minimal consequence without the draw. I will always cheer for Fed as long as he’s playing, but I never say no to some new blood. In the last 10 years, there have only been six (!) different champions. Of those 40 tournaments, 32 have been won by Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal.
