The new tennis season is ready to launch with the Australian Open already just a couple of weeks away in Melbourne and Liam Flin looks forward to what's in store.

In 2022, the ATP and WTA seasons did not fail to deliver. In the men's game, three of the four Grand Slams were won by the old guard of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, yet it was teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz who finished the year top of the ATP rankings.

As for the women's, Ashleigh Barty sent shockwaves through the sport when retiring early in the season after claiming the Australian Open, opening the door for young Pole Iga Swiatek to become the new dominant force on the WTA Tour and win two of the season's remaining three Grand Slams.

It is hard to know what to expect from the new ATP and WTA campaigns but there are some players who look destined to take their games to the next level. 

Here is a look at some of the specials markets for the 2023 seasons and how they could unfold.

Djokovic should never be written off

Unable to feature in the Australian Open at the start of the year, 2022 was looking like a pretty forgettable campaign for Serbian superstar Djokovic.

He picked up the Italian Open title in May before enduring a fairly underwhelming return to the Grand Slam scene later in the month with a quarter-final exit at the hands of Nadal in the French Open.

But at Wimbledon, Djokovic showed why he cannot be written off, claiming his seventh title at the All England Club and keeping his cool to overpower Nick Kyrgios in the final.

That was followed up with titles in Tel Aviv and Astana before Djokovic secured a spot in the top five of the ATP rankings at the end of the year by winning the ATP World Tour Finals at the expense of finalist Casper Ruud.

Despite having everything go against him in the first half of the year, Djokovic still managed to enjoy a pretty good season and, given he is once again set to feature in his favourite Grand Slam - the Australian Open - his 2023 should be even better.

Djokovic has won the Melbourne major a record nine times and playing in the opening Grand Slam of the season should ensure his fitness levels hold steady. At 1/1, he is a solid bet to win two or more Grand Slams in 2023.

Alcaraz has shown he can mix it with the best

Finishing top of the ATP rankings at the end of a season is no mean feat. Doing so as a teenager is sensational.

The fearless Alcaraz, who is still only 19, enjoyed a terrific 2022 and if Djokovic picks up a couple of Grand Slam titles this year, it would be no surprise to see the Spanish youngster hoover up the other two.

Alcaraz is largely considered the heir apparent to 'King of Clay' Nadal and, despite exiting the French Open at the quarter-final stage last season, he looks a serious danger in Paris this year.

He won his maiden Grand Slam in 2022 in the form of the US Open and, although he would have liked to finish the season stronger, he is a top talent with a bright future.

There is value in backing Alcaraz to win two or more Grand Slams at 9/4, while before that he could win the ATP Madrid - an event he won last year, beating both Djokovic and Nadal on the way to the title.

Ruud ready to impress again

As for the others on the ATP Tour, the jury is out on Nadal, who had the second half of his 2022 campaign hindered by injury, while Norwegian Ruud, who is third in the ATP rankings, looks the most likely to spring a surprise.

Ruud was runner-up in the French Open, US Open and the ATP World Tour Finals and could be worth a bet to reach two or more Grand Slam finals in 2023 at a big 18/1.

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Swiatek emerges as star of the show on WTA Tour

The WTA Tour had been calling out for a player to grab it by the scruff of its neck, especially after Barty announced her retirement, and last season Swiatek embraced the challenge.

Her year featured an eye-watering 37-match unbeaten streak as well as two Grand Slam titles in the form of the French Open and the US Open. Swiatek also managed to achieve her best finish at the Australian Open last year, reaching the semi-finals.

This was made all the more remarkable by the fact the Pole is only 21-years-old and her best years are yet to come.

A Serena Williams-style dominance could well be on the horizon for Swiatek, although her season was not without its down moments - she crashed out in the third round at Wimbledon and lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals.

Nonetheless, a bet on Swiatek to win two or more Grand Slams is worth a bet at 1/1, while three or more Grand Slams is also worth backing at 9/2 given Swiatek looked so far ahead of the rest of the pack last year.

Jabeur in for another solid season

Aside from Swiatek, Sabalenka and Emma Raducanu will be among the others to monitor this year but Ons Jabeur could also be a value bet to reach two or more Grand Slam finals at 6/1.

Tunisian Jabeur, who favours the faster courts, fell at the final hurdles at both the US Open and Wimbledon last season but also impressed on clay, winning the Madrid Open and finishing runner-up in the Italian Open.