AUS OPEN: WHAT TO DO WITH NOVAK?

This past Monday night, Novak Djokovic won in court to secure his place out on court.

The entire diplomatic saga has caused such frenetic energy on the Betfair Exchange that over $7 million has been matched in the Australian Open Men’s Winner market (and ticking up fast).

Compare this to the Women’s Winner market – headed by Australia’s world number 1 Ash Barty – where liquidity has passed just $250,000.

No matter what side you take from a political perspective, the Djoker’s still a tennis player. A good one at that. But the world number 1 is starting to demonstrate his vulnerability in a number of ways that could affect his game.

Take the 2020 U.S. Open, where he was cruising to the Final, with Nadal and Federer notably absent. But one inexplicable fit of rage against Pablo Carreño Busta in the 4th round sent Novak packing.

The only thing seemingly being wedged between him and a 17th Grand Slam title could be the man himself. And he’s done no favours by perhaps putting a lot of the public passionately offside (or equally onside). How will that affect the champ’s mindset on court?

With all this on the agenda, here’s what Betfair’s tennis pro punter Ace has to say now on Novak. Are we overthinking strategy? Should we trust the exciting youngsters underneath to usurp the Djoker?

“It’s hard to know what the threat of deportation continuing to hang over his head does to Novak. Keep him safe in your portfolio in the meantime, as he still is still able to play himself into some form across the first week of the tournament if he plays.”

 

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