Roger Federer top chance to win Australian Open

Roger Federer

Roger Federer is primed to serve up a treat as the world's premier players jostle for a record $30 million ($NZ39.4 million) in riches over the Australian summer.

The Australian Open, starting in Melbourne on January 16, boasts the biggest purse in tennis history, a total prize pool of $26 million, including a whopping $2.3 million each for the men's and women's singles champions.

Having already banked $68.38 million ($NZ89.8 million) in on-court earnings, Federer will arrive at Melbourne Park oozing confidence after ending 2011 on a 17-match winning streak.

Despite having failed to land a grand slam crown for the first year since 2002, Federer, according to ATP number crunchers, is serving better than at any time in his remarkable career. Since his most recent defeat, Federer is winning 83.2 per cent of first-serve points, a stunning strike rate that's made him almost impossible to beat.

Now 30, Federer's 16th slam came in Melbourne in 2010, but fellow four-times Australian Open champion Ken Rosewall says it'd be foolish to back against the father of two breaking his two-year drought next month. Federer is the Open's second favourite behind only world No.1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic.

If you'd like to have a flutter on the Australian Open, then take a look at the tennis betting odds from William Hill Sports.