Will an ATP Player triumph at their home slam in 2019?

The most passionate atmospheres of tennis will be lost in the restructuring of the Davis Cup, so perhaps fans will be more fervent than usual in backing the home favourites at the Grand Slams of 2019. Quality usually prevails over home advantage, but here is a look at each nation’s best hope of having a domestic Slam winner in 2019.
Australian Open
The last Australian to prevail in their native Slam was Mark Edmondson in 1976, and it is surprising that two-time Slam champions Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt never enjoyed great success at home. Nick Kyrgios was predicted to follow in the footsteps of Rafter and Hewitt, but he remains in a constant battle with fitness and temperament. A look at Australian open 2019 betting with Betfair finds Kyrgios as the shortest-priced Australian, but it is Alex De Minaur who could represent the nation’s best hope. De Minaur may not boast the impressive wins against the world’s best that Kyrgios has achieved, but the 19-year-old ends 2018 as the highest-ranked Australian, at 31. De Minaur will look to Edmondson for inspiration; the 1976 winner was an ever loftier 212 in the world when he won the Australian Open.
French Open
Yannick Noah is the most recent Frenchman to triumph at Roland Garros, winning his solitary Slam in 1983. Since then, the French Open has enjoyed Spanish supremacy, a supremacy that has largely been named ‘Rafael Nadal’. While France continues to have depth in quality, evidenced by its progression to the Davis Cup final this year, there is the lack of a standout player. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils were blighted by injury last year, so perhaps the younger Lucas Pouille represents France’s best hope. Pouille is frustratingly inconsistent but has real talent, although the smart money will be on a certain Spaniard once again.
Wimbledon
Andy Murray is the last man to win his home Slam, winning Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. Whether Murray can realistically challenge in 2019 remains to be seen. At his best, Murray will be one of the favourites, but he will have to prove his fitness in the months beforehand. Perhaps the new British number 1 Kyle Edmund can also challenge, with the 23-year-old now combining his massive forehand with mental fortitude. Edmund looks set to breach the top 10 for the first time in 2019, but Wimbledon may belong to Roger Federer this year (perhaps for the last time) – either way, we will check the odds in order to provide the best tips.
US Open
It is remarkable that a player of Andy Roddick’s calibre only won one Grand Slam, coming on native soil in 2003. Before that, American star Pete Sampras dominated the tournament in the 90s. There are no Americans approaching that level in 2019. John Isner has hit new heights in the twilight of his career, but the huge server doesn’t have the all-round game to overcome the world’s best. The 20-year-old Frances Tiafoe ends the year in the world’s top 40 and matches Isner’s strength with more sprightly legs.
A Slam in 2019 appears far too soon for Tiafoe, but the US Open has given first Slam titles to Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic and Andy Murray in recent years so nothing should be ruled out. However, a resurgent Novak Djokovic is destined to dominate 2019. There may not be a Serbian, Swiss or Spanish Slam, but Djokovic, Federer and Nadal will likely continue to make the Grand Slams their home in 2019.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
Ten facts about Kyle Edmund on his birthday, featuring Liverpool, Ricky Ponting and Drake
-
Top 10 biggest questions ahead of 2019 season – what next for Roger Federer?
-
Tennis betting preview: Alex de Minaur to wow fans again in Sydney
-
Tennis365’s A to Z of tennis for December: An ‘arrogant’ Lleyton Hewitt, a Fedal reunion and more
-
-
Latest
-
Tennis News
Roger Federer sends his fans into a frenzy with Twitter post ahead of his return to action
Roger Federer fans are counting down to his return to action in Doha next week and his tweet teasing his return instantly became a big hit.
-
Tennis News
Iga Swiatek’s perfect week as she claims her second WTA title
Iga Swiatek won her second career WTA title with victory over Belinda Bencic in the final of the Adelaide International.
-
News
Jamie Murray says quarantine threat on tour means players must be ready to adapt
The doubles specialist plans to travel to tournaments in Mexico and Miami next month without knowing what to expect on arrival.
-
Tennis News
Battle of the Brits event is back and this time with spectators
The Battle of the Brits events were a huge success during the Covid-19 crisis and now they are set to return with spectators.
-
Tennis Features
The only way is up for Naomi Osaka as she looks to replicate hard-court success on clay and grass
Oli Jefford on the world being Naomi Osaka’s oyster.
-
Kevin Palmer
Britain’s strength in depth in doubles highlights quality of structure
British tennis may be wondering who can replace Andy Murray, but they have a very different story to tell in the doubles arena.
-
Tennis News
Rafael Nadal pulls out of his next event due to ‘ongoing’ back problem
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the ABN…
-
Tennis News
Lleyton Hewitt to be inducted into International Tennis Hall Of Fame
Former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt is the latest player who will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
-
Tennis Features
Five of the best men’s matches at the Australian Open featuring Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rafael Nadal, and more
The matches that made us sit up and take note.
-
Australian Open
Five of the best women’s matches at Australian Open featuring Naomi Osaka vs Garbine Muguruza, and more
Five of the best women’s singles matches at the 2021 Aus Open.