Djokovic 10-1 for Slam after epic Aussie defence

NOVAK DJOKOVIC outlasted Rafael Nadal in the longest ever Grand Slam final on Sunday, beating the Spaniard in an epic five-setter to defend his Australian Open title. And the world No. 1, who won three of the four major crowns last year, is now 10-1 with Hills to win all four Grand Slams this season.

Djokovic won 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 7-5 in nearly six hours, delivering a hammer blow to bookmakers after he had been backed from
5-2 at the start of the year to begin the tournament the 5-4 favourite. Indeed, he was a strong ante post headline recommendation at 5-4 by RPSPORT tennis expert Dylan Hill and advised again for the final at 7-10.

The length of the final meant there was no respite either with punters always keen on a high total.

“Our ante-post book was all about Djokovic and his victory has been very expensive for us,” confirmed bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth.

Hills at least got away with their stand-out offer of 8-1 Nadal before a ball was struck in Melbourne.

Nadal clearly remains his biggest rival and Hills are 2-1 that the pair win all the majors between them this year.

It’s 25-1 with bet365 that they contest every final.

Current French Open king Nadal is evens to triumph in Paris for a seventh-time in eight years (and as short as 8-11 with Paddy Power) while Djokovic is no bigger than 7-4 with Ladbrokes for a first Roland Garros victory. 

Roger Federer, who broke the Nadal Paris stranglehold briefly in 2009,  is 14-1, Juan Martin del Potro is 16-1 and Andy Murray, edged out by Djokovic in a dramatic Melbourne semi-final, is 20-1.

Read Monday's Racing Post for Spreadwise reaction to the Australian Open finals and Adrian Humphries's betting verdicts on the coming week's tournaments