Federer Tipped to Edge Out Nadal in 2010

Roger Federer leads the betting to finish the year 2010 as the number one ranked player in men's tennis, but it isn't expected to be easy, with up to five players considered good betting odds for the title.

Federer won back the world number one crown in 2009 after losing it to Rafael Nadal in 2008 following four years as the unchallenged best player in the world.

That will no doubt push him to achieve the feat once again, and Ladbrokes has responded accordingly by giving him 5/2 odds to finish next year at the top of men's tennis once again. But Nadal is hot on his heels, with 11/4 odds indicating that bookmakers expect him to overcome the injury problems that plagued him this year.

In what appears to be the most open field in modern men's tennis history, Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, 10/3, Serb Novak Djokovic, 4/1, and Brit Andy Murray, 11/2, are all considered realistic chances of ending 2010 as the ATP's world number one ranked player.

If those odds aren't interesting enough, bookmakers are also offering bets on the chances of individual players winning at least one of the four grand slams next year. Federer, Nadal, del Potro and Murray are all either odds on or evens at Paddy Power to win a grand slam, while Djokovic is 13/8. Other good options include 2008 Australian Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 7/1, and his French compatriot Gael Monfils, at 12/1.