With the ATP tennis season rapidly approaching the French Open, the second grand slam of the 2023 season, it is time to look at the number of slams won by top players. This information can be helpful when looking at futures grand slam players odds for the upcoming majors.
Nadal, Djokovic Tied
Novak Djokovic won the 2023 Australian Open to claim his 22nd career major title. That win moved him into a tie with Rafael Nadal for the most in the history of men’s tennis predictions. Those two have combined to win each of the last five Australian Opens, the last seven French Opens, and the last four Wimbledon’s. Overall they have won 16 of the last 19 major titles, dating back to when Roger Federer won the 2018 Australian Open.
Federer retired with 20 grand slams, and when he won his 20th in 2018, the Swiss legend was well ahead of the other two members of the Big Three. At the time, Nadal had 14 titles, and Novak Djokovic had 12, but in the five years since, both have surpassed Federer, and he’s locked into the three spot on the majors list.
Vaccination Controversy
Djokovic has won the last two grand slam titles in tournaments he’s been able to play. He won the Australian in dominating fashion in January and also took his seventh Wimbledon crown last summer. In between those, he withdrew from the U.S. Open instead of getting vaccinated.
Meanwhile, Nadal won two major titles in 2022, the Australian and the French Open. The title on clay was his 14th at Roland Garros, an all-time record. He won’t get to defend his title though as an injury from this year’s Australian Open will keep him out for the rest of 2023.
With Nadal out of the French, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open it is very likely Djokovic will pass him and be the first male to win a 23rd major. Looking at the futures Grand Slams players odds, it’s not out of the possibility that Djokovic ends the 2023 campaign with 24 or 25 majors and puts the all-time record out of reach.
Other Active Players
Besides Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, there aren’t very many active major winners. Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka both have three career titles but neither has won since 2016, and both have been severely hampered by injuries and age the last few years. Dominic Thiem has one title, but he’s also working his way back from injury and not a top contender at the moment.
The two players with titles who have a chance to make some noise are Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. Both have won the U.S. Open, with Alcaraz taking the title in New York last fall and Medvedev did so in 2021. Those players have won big titles on tour so far this season with Masters Series wins, and both will be contenders to Djokovic and the three remaining grand slams in 2023.
Futures Odds
Alcaraz is the favorite in the Grand Slams players odds. With the tournament approaching, he is +150 as the No. 1 player in the world to win his first French Open. Djokovic is +210 to win his third title on clay, while Medvedev is sixth in line at +1500.
At the Wimbledon grand slam players odds, Djokovic is the favorite at +110. Alcaraz is +400, and Medvedev is +800, with no other players better than +1000. Djokovic hasn’t lost on the grass in London since 2017, and a win this summer would tie him with Federer for the most Wimbledon titles at eight.
The Grand Slams players odds are a little tighter for September’s U.S. Open. Djokovic is the favorite at +180 with Alcaraz at +280 to repeat his title from last year. Medvedev is +340, and Nadal is listed at +1100 in hopes that he will be able to come back at the end of the summer.
Djokovic is likely to win at least one of the titles this summer. Alcaraz appears to be his biggest threat but don’t count out Medvedev and other young, hungry players like Jannik Sinner, Casper Ruud, and Holger Rune. But as far as extending the record for grand slam titles, that’s all on Djokovic, with Nadal trying to recover from injury.
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks.