Djokovic easily defeats Tiafoe, dispelling injury withdrawal rumors; Sinner and Sabalenka lead Australian Open men’s and women’s singles title odds

At the 2026 Australian Open exhibition, Djokovic beat American Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4, giving himself a good start before the main tournament begins.

Yesterday, Djokovic retired from training with Lehecka after only 12 minutes because of evident neck pain and showed signs of exhaustion throughout the session. This situation sparked concerns about the Serbian star’s physical condition, with many media outlets even predicting a possible last-minute withdrawal before the Australian Open. However, his appearance and straightforward victory in the exhibition match quickly dispelled these rumors.

“It’s a rare opportunity to feel the atmosphere on the center court. Hearing the umpire call the score again, sensing the reactions of ball kids and the crowd, and experiencing the tension at 30-all on the second serve — all these help me shake off the rust from being away from competition for so long,” Djokovic emphasized. “After all, I haven’t played an official match or participated in Australian Open warm-ups since early November last year, so it’s indeed been a long break.”

Regarding today’s match, he said, “It was great to play two sets today. Over the past 20-plus years, I’ve been fortunate to go through many seasons, so I can’t even clearly recall yesterday’s events, let alone those from ten years ago. I keep reminding myself never to take any moment on court for granted. We must first overcome ourselves before facing our opponents. But I want to remind myself of the joy that still exists and the blessing of competing at the highest level at this age.”

Tennis legends have highly praised Djokovic’s perseverance. Former world No.1 Wilander noted, “Djokovic’s experience and tactical intelligence are unmatched by younger players. On a surface like the Australian Open, where he has absolute confidence, a healthy Djokovic remains a player nobody wants to face early. Seeing him active at this age is itself a remarkable surprise!”

Regarding Djokovic’s injury, sports medicine expert Robert Klein stated, “The recovery cycle for a 38-year-old athlete is much longer than for younger players. Djokovic’s decision to skip warm-up tournaments and directly enter the Grand Slam is wise. Reducing the number of matches while improving their quality is key to extending his career. This year’s Australian Open is critical for him, and his performance there will be an important indicator of his physical condition.”

Additionally, as the Australian Open main draw approaches, bookmakers have updated the latest title-winning odds.

Italian rising star Sinner tops the list with odds of 1 to 1.9, followed closely by Spanish prodigy Alcaraz at 1 to 2.62. Djokovic ranks third at 1 to 13, ahead of Zverev at 1 to 23 and Medvedev at 1 to 26. Further down the odds board are Deminal/Alcaraz at 1 to 51, Bublyk/Fonseca at 1 to 67, Musetti/Sakkari at 1 to 81, and Rublev/Ruud/Hurkacz/Menchik/Paolo/Korda all at 1 to 101.

On the women’s side, Sabalenka leads the title odds at 1 to 2.87, followed by Swiatek at 1 to 6, Gauff at 1 to 8, and Rybakina at 1 to 9, creating a highly competitive field. Last year’s Australian Open champion Keys ranks eighth with odds of 1 to 21. Other odds include Anisimova at 1 to 10, Andreescu at 1 to 15, Keys/Osaka at 1 to 21, Kostyuk at 1 to 26, Muchova/Mboko/Bencic at 1 to 34, Pegula at 1 to 41, and Paolini at 1 to 51.

Regarding this year’s Australian Open odds, some social media users joked, “Seeing Djokovic’s odds at only 1 to 13 makes me feel like the bookmakers trust him to win even more than I do.”

Others commented, “Looking at Sinner and Alcaraz’s odds really shows how much the men’s tennis landscape has changed. But Djokovic still being in the top three at 38 years old is a legend in itself.”

One fan discussed the women’s singles title race this year: “From what we see now, Sabalenka and Gauff are the most consistent, Rybakina has the potential to cause surprises, Anisimova is highly anticipated by many, and Keys will find it difficult to defend her title. The women’s draw looks quite open this year with many players having a chance, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would definitely be Sabalenka.”

The Australian Open is about to begin; which players are you rooting for? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)