Sportingbet Australia punters are backing Roger Federer to win his fourth Australian Open after he was friendless in pre-tournament betting.
Federer opened at $2.75 several months ago but drifted out to $3.75 as recently as last week as question marks arose over the champion's form and fitness.
"Those questions have been answered emphatically with many punters outlaying several thousand dollars on the 'Fed Express'," Sportingbet Australia chief executive Michael Sullivan said. "The biggest bet was $6500 at $3.40 with Federer now showing $3.25. The opening couple of days there were simply no results for bookies and punters investing in big all-ups had a fill-up.
"Fortunately for us, two Aussies provided some relief on Wednesday night. Jelena Dokic winning was a good result, as was young Bernard Tomic winning the first set.
"Sportingbet Australia clients stepped heavily into Tomic's opponent Gilles Muller to win in straight sets, including one bet of $10,000 at $2.45."
Meanwhile, Flemington Sportsbet's Jason Sylvester said his office had been busy, with punters winning plenty.
"The punters have been on serve at the Australian Open," he said. "With the usual suspects winning early, the punters investing in multis are cleaning up. The one short-priced favourite to get rolled was David Nalbandian, who was at $1.05 but he was friendless in betting."
Sylvester said Federer remained solid at the top of betting to take the title, firming from $3.80 to $3.25.
"We even wrote a bet of $66,000 to $1000 about Federer winning the Australian Open into Geelong to win the NAB Cup into St Kilda to make the top four in the AFL this season," he said.
In the women's draw, Dokic, who was given no hope at the start of the Open and was at $1001 with TAB Sportsbet, is in to $101 after wins against Tamira Paszek and Anna Chakvetadze.
Centrebet's Neil Evans said the Australian was sensationally backed from $2.50 in to $2.30 before beating the 17th-seeded Russian Chakvetadze in round two. However, she is a $5.25 outsider to continue the charge against Danish young gun Caroline Wozniacki ($1.14) in the third round.
One-day traffic
Australia have been well-backed before the start of both one-day cricket matches already this summer and are again short-priced favourites to win game three at the SCG today.
"They opened at $1.42 when batting first in Melbourne, and they were $1.48 after being sent in against South Africa in Hobart," TAB Sportsbet's Matt Jenkins said. "Australia have opened at $1.55 and South Africa at $2.35 for game three in Sydney with early money going the way of the Proteas."
Four-leg clover
A TAB Sportsbet punter stands to collect almost $500,000 should a four-leg multi bet prove successful.
Jenkins said the punter had taken Federer to win the men's title at the Australian Open into Serena Williams to win the women's title.
"The punter also has Australia to win the ODI series against South Africa and Pittsburgh to win the Super Bowl," he said, adding that the punter outlaid $24,000 at a quote of $20.57.
THE BEST BET
A draw between Sydney FC and Newcastle at $3.40 with Sportsbetting.com.au
Media Man Australia Profiles
Centrebet
Sports Betting
Sports News
Australian Sports Entertainment
Australian Sports Entertainment
