The first round of the 2023 Australian Open men’s singles tournament starts off with a bang, as top-seeded Rafael Nadal will face young up-and-comer Jack Draper in a matchup that should be more competitive than it seems on paper. Will Nadal continue to extend his dominance in Melbourne, or will Draper provide the first massive upset of the year?

Nitrobetting is ready to volley the latest tennis news, odds, and updates all year round. Let’s break down the upcoming first-round match of the 2023 Australian Open men’s singles tournament between Rafael Nadal and Jack Draper this time.

Rafael Nadal vs. Jack Draper Match Information

Thumbs up from @RafaelNadal to all the epic battles and AO moments to come ????

Rafa Nadal • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/tKPJubMsS1

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2023

• When: Sunday, January 15, 2023
• Where: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• TV: ESPN, ESPN2
• Live Stream: ESPN+
• 2023 Australian Open Odds: Nadal (-196) // Draper (+164)

READ MORE: Iga Swiatek vs. Jule Niemeier 2023 Australian Open Odds and Preview

Why Bet on Rafael Nadal?

Despite being in quite a slump, many are still high on Rafael Nadal to cruise toward the latter stages of the 2023 Australian Open. The 36-year-old veteran is starting to show signs of his age, recently losing six of his last seven matches since bowing out of the fourth round of the US Open.

Perhaps Nadal was just exhausted from an amazing run in 2022 wherein he set a new record with his 22nd-career Grand Slam victory after capturing his unprecedented 14th French Open men’s singles title. Prior to reclaiming his throne in Roland Garros, he also won at the Australian Open for just the second time and his first title in Melbourne since 2009.

When it comes to Grand Slam tourneys, few come close to the overwhelming success that Nadal has had in such events. Dating back to the 2017 season, the sensational Spaniard finished no worse than the quarterfinal stage in Melbourne.

Why Bet on Jack Draper?

In just a couple of years as a pro, the United Kingdom’s very own Jack Draper has climbed up the ranks’ en route to a superb top-40 placement in the world rankings entering the new year. The 21-year-old tennis prodigy has yet to win a tournament at the ATP Masters level but has shown signs of his prowess on the courts nonetheless.

Draper got his first taste of victory against a top-10 opponent in then-No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Canadian Open. This was shortly before he eliminated then-No. 8 Felix Auger-Aliassime at the US Open, where he finished with a new career-best third-round showing in just his third Grand Slam event ever.

Most of Draper’s actual victories were at the ATP Challenger level, with all four of such Challenger wins having been met last year between January in April. It won’t be long until he finally tastes a victory on the ATP Tour stage, and he certainly poses as a real sleeper threat to knock out Nadal in the first round of the Aussie Open.

Rafael Nadal vs. Jack Draper Betting Trends

• Nadal went 23-3 in his last 26 matches on the hard courts.
• Nadal has only suffered one first-round exit in 17 career trips to the Australian Open.
• Draper has six victories over top-20 opponents since last June.
• Draper is 16-7 on the hard courts dating back to the start of the previous season.

Rafael Nadal vs. Jack Draper Expert Betting Prediction

As the odds would imply, Nadal isn’t considered an overwhelming favorite to beat Draper this weekend. After all, Rafa’s on a skid while Draper’s stock is still on the rise. Nadal should have more backers on the betting front after he escapes a tough first-round matchup, but right now, the smart money is on Draper to complete the upset.

Where to Bet on 2023 Australian Open with Crypto

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more tennis game previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest tennis betting odds on our online Bitcoin sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.