Posted on 1/14/2008 5:15:16 PM

Men’s ATP Australian Open Betting – Six-Pack of Free First Round Picks

By Eric Williams

I always tell tennis bettors that early-round tennis wagering is one of the best – and safest -ways to make money on sports wagering an the 2008 Australian Open is no different than most tournaments featuring the world’s top players.

The point is, very rarely does one of the game’s top seeds fall in a major Grand Slam event in the first round - the best time to wager on tennis if you ask me.

This six-pack of free ATP Picks is a perfect example of what I mean. By wagering on any of the six favorites in tonight’s matches, tennis bettors are practically guaranteeing themselves some sort of wagering windfall.

Here is a brief look at each match, followed by my Free ATP Tennis Pick.

07:00 PM EST

Roger Federer -10 -105

Diego Hartfield +10 -135

+2000

Under 26½ -115

ATP Australian Open Round 1

Analysis: Get real people, Federer has won two consecutive Australian Open titles while Hartfield has won … uh… absolutely nothing of consequence.

Free Pick: Federer

07:00 PM EST

Novak Djokovic -8 -115

Benjamin Becker +8 -125

ATP Australian Open Round 1

Analysis: Djokovic reached the fourth round in last year’s Aussie Open and his first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open and could be poised for his first Grand Slam title in 2008 while Becker was knocked out in the first round last season.

Free Pick: Djokovic

07:00 PM EST

Janko Tipsarevic -4 -125

Joseph Sirianni +4 -115

ATP Australian Open Round 1

Analysis: Tipsarevic, another Serbian-born player like Djokovic, made tremendous strides last season while moving into the world’s Top 50 players and should beat Sirianni here despite not advancing past the second round in three tries in Australia.

Free Pick: Tipsarevic

07:00 PM EST

Sam Querrey +2½ -125

Olivier Rochus -2½ -115

ATP Australian Open Round 1

Analysis: The 20-year-old Querrey reached the third round at last year’s Australian Open and should be even better this season with another year of experience under his belt. Rochus has played in seven Australian Opens, with his best showing coming in 2005 when he reached the fourth round. Rochus was knocked out in the second round in each of the last two Australian Opens.

Free Pick: Querrey

07:00 PM EST

Lleyton Hewitt -8 -115

Steve Darcis +8 -125

ATP Australian Open Round 1

Analysis: The Australian-born Hewitt, winner of the 2002 Wimbledon, has never won an Australian Open but did finish as the runner-up in 2005, though he was knocked out in the third round last year and the second in 2006. The Belgian-born Darcis has never played in an Australian Open and should see his first Grand Slam tournament down under come to a quick end.

Free Pick: Hewitt

07:00 PM EST

Thomas Johansson +5½ -125

Marcos Baghdatis -5½ -115

ATP Australian Open Round 1

Analysis: The likable Baghdatis was knocked out of last year’s tournament in the second round but clearly has the stuff to win it after reaching the finals against Federer in 2006. Baghdatis however, will face a former champion in 2002 Australian Open winner Thomas Johansson who was knocked out of last year’s Open in the second round after reaching the fourth round in 2005 and 2006. Take Baghdatis over an aging Johansson who failed to reach the fourth round in any major last season.

Free Pick: Baghdatis