7/2 - Phillip Kohlschreiber to beat Kei Nishikori

Kei Nishikori was embroiled in a five-set battle with Benoit Paire in the first round of the US Open five months ago.

Nishikori was beaten and has since suffered a confidence crisis.

The world No. 7 has lost five of his last 13 matches and looked fragile in defeat to Bernard Tomic two weeks ago.

So being drawn against the tournament's best unseeded player, Phillip Kohlschreiber, is not ideal.

Kohlschreiber has taken out big-name players before, beating Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray at various points in his career.

Back him for another upset here.

12/5 - Julien Benneteau vs Nicolas Almagro

Julien Benneteau is a huge price to down Nicolas Almagro in what is a contest between two old pros.

Almagro has fallen dramatically in recent years and he started 2016 by losing to 449th-ranked Ante Pavic in Chennai.

Benneteau has a few issues but, at 34, remains a classy player.

The Frenchman can use his attacking game to trouble clay-court specialist Almagro.

5/4 - Mikhail Kukushkin to beat Joao Sousa

This year’s Australian Open is the first time Joao Sousa has been seeded in a Slam, but the 26-year-old may not have long to enjoy the feeling.

His first-round opponent, Mikhail Kukushkin, is about as tricky a player as they come.

The Kazakh defeated Sousa in their last meeting in Rome - winning in three sets - and is excellent value to triumph again over the Portuguese.

1/3 - Jeremy Chardy to beat Ernest Gulbis

A first-round defeat at this tournament 12 months ago was the start of Ernest Gulbis’s abysmal 2015 season.

The Latvian lost well over half of his matches on tour and perhaps broke even more rackets.

Chardy, meanwhile, enjoyed a breakthrough 2015, reaching the US Open fourth round and the Montreal Masters semi-finals.

The big-hitting Frenchman should canter to victory here.

6/5 - Fabio Fognini to beat Gilles Muller

Fabio Fognini is excellent value to beat Gilles Muller.

Fognini endured a horrendous start to the hard-court season 12 months ago, but improved as the year progressed and won a thrilling five-set thriller against Nadal at the US Open.

If the Italian can reach a similar standard in Melbourne, he should be too good for Muller, who has lost three of his last four matches on tour.

A £10 bet on this five-fold accumulator returns £972.40*.

Australian Open betting

*Odds and amounts correct at the time of publication but subject to change. See site for latest.

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