With the second Grand Slam of the tennis year – the French Open – rolling around once more, we’ve cast an eye across the form and betting odds to pick out a few predictions. Can any of our big odds tips walk away with the prize and land a huge winning bet?
This year’s French Open looks like it could be dominated by Rafa Nadal on the men’s side, while the women’s draw looks quite open. Both markets offer plenty of value though, and we think there are a couple of good value picks from across both draws. Ahead of the start of the action at Roland Garros, why not take a look at our predictions for the outright winners, each-way picks and the dark horses who could cause a shock or two this week?
Men’s Predictions
- Betting Tip – Rafa Nadal at 5/6 with Ladbrokes
- Outsider Tip – Dominic Thiem at 10/1 with Betfair
You could be forgiven for thinking at one point that Rafa Nadal’s domination of the French Open was over. He was the comfortable favourite for the trophy every year, winning an incredible nine titles at Roland Garros in his career, more than any other player. However, recent years have seen him struggle, with injuries stopping his continuation of his previous domination in Paris. His apparently unbeatable form at the French Open looked to be over for good, yet the Spaniard will take to the clay for the 2017 tournament as odds on favourite to win the title for an incredible 10th time. Can anyone stop him here?
Even at odds on, we think it’s worth backing the Spaniard to take the title this year. He’s back to his best on clay, having won 17 of his 18 matches on the surface in 2017. He managed to take titles in Madrid and Barcelona, while he’s got the knowhow to get over the line at Roland Garros. The King of Clay will be feared once again on this surface, and it’s hard to see anyone stopping him.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray aren’t at their best at present, and neither has ever inspired the same confidence on clay as Nadal did at his best. Even at the short price of 5/6 with Ladbrokes, we think it’s worth taking a punt on the record French Open champion to add to his long list of success at this event.
If there’s any outside candidate to stop Nadal here, then it’s Austrian Dominic Thiem. While he couldn’t do much to halt the Spaniard in the final in either Madrid or Barcelona, his recent form inspires confidence. Having made the final of those two events, he then dumped Nadal out in Rome in the build up to the French Open.
While that extra break played slightly into our choice to back the favourite, we also think that Thiem is capable of pulling off a similar result. He was a semi-finalist at this event last year, and that makes us highlight him as an each way punt ahead of this year’s French Open.
Alternative Men’s Bets
If you like the look of our main tip, then there is an alternative punt you can take. Sky Bet are pricing Nadal at 7/1 to win the French Open without losing a set, which is impressive given that he’s dropped just two sets in the 17 matches he’s won on clay this year. His brilliant form should carry him through without much trouble against the majority of the field, and if you think he can make it through without slipping up then we suggest you take that huge price.
There’s another huge odds player in the field that we recommend you take a look at, with Juan Martin del Porto looking overpriced ahead of the tournament. The former US Open champion has struggled with injuries throughout his career, and a wrist injury forced him out of nine major tournaments in two years before his return in 2016. His 2009 success in the US had the Argentine looking like a main contender for major titles going forward, but that’s not something he’s had much opportunity to do since.
However, del Potro kicked on after returning to Tennis, and he returned to make the quarters of the US Open late last year. He’s managed to record successes against Djokovic and Murray, on top of taking an Olympic silver medal in Rio. His greatest success came with Argentina, as he inspired them to Davis Cup success last year. That win showed that del Potro is a man for the big occasion, and he can show off his resolve and ability in the French Open this year.
He made a late return to clay this year, which explains why he’s such an outsider with the bookies. However, a run to the quarter-finals in Rome showed promise, and we think it’s worth backing the former Grand Slam winner at 50/1 with Betfair.
Women’s Predictions
- Betting Tip – Elina Svitolina at 8/1 with Sky Bet
- Outsider Tip – Garbine Murguruza at 11/1 with Betfred
The Women’s draw doesn’t have an odds on favourite like Nadal, there’s no one filling that void at the top level. Serena Williams saw her grip on the spot loosen, and now she’s missing this time around due to her maternity leave. It is not immediately apparently who will step up in her place.
There’s certainly a more open feel about this edition of the tournament, and we can see a couple of shocks along the way. Could we get a young star or a new name walking away with the title? We’ve got plenty of contenders for the title, but who is worth putting your money on? With so many choices, there’s certainly value in this field.
There are few players in this draw who can rival the current form of Elina Svitolina. The 22-year-old may not have the major experience that you’d usually look for, but neither does the tournament favourite Simona Halep, who has seen her price cut despite failing to deliver at big events. We’ve switched focus to Svitolina given her recent wins on clay in Istanbul and Rome.
Her success in Italy saw her dispatch the tournament favourite Halep, and the reigning champion at the French Open, Muguruza. That momentum could carry her into the latter stages here, and the Ukrainian has shown that she has the quality to beat top level opponents. At decent odds of 8/1 with Sky Bet, we think she’s worth backing.
It feels slightly strange to be tipping the defending champion as any kind of outsider, but a win for Garbine Muguruza would bring an end to a long running trend. The French Open women’s title has traded hands every year since 2007, which is a pretty long period without one person dominating a Grand Slam tournament, especially when you compare that to Nadal’s highly impressive record. However, the defending champion could well walk away with the trophy this time around.
Muguruza has the top level experience which the names around her lack. She’s been stronger at this tournament than anywhere else, and she looked impressive as she dispatched Serena Williams in the final 12 months ago. She hasn’t been stunning on clay this season, but she didn’t need big warm up results in order to take the title last year, she was in mixed form before walking away with her first Grand Slam. That experience could prove vital, which has us tipping her to break this long spell without a back to back winner in this tournament. At 11/1 with Betfred, the reigning champion certainly seems to be good value for the win.
Alternative Women’s Bets
In case those two picks were a little too small pricewise, there are some alternative choices for you to back here. With Serena Williams missing out through pregnancy, could this be the year for her older sister Venus to take the title? She’s never won at Roland Garros, and given that she turns 37 next month this is probably her final shot.
But with the tournament more open than ever, this could be the chance for her experience to beat out the youthful hopefuls. Having made a grand slam semi and final in the last 12 months, we think Venus is worth a shot ahead of this tournament. After all, she’s showing she can still compete with the best, and it’s not like anyone at the top of the women’s game has the consistency to eliminate her with ease.
We think it’s worth backing her at the huge price of 60/1 with Betfair, given her late resurgence. Having seen off Johanna Konta in Rome before testing the reigning champion Muguruza, there’s certainly a chance for Venus to come out on top this time around. Her French Open record isn’t great, but the ninth seed can make a push for the latter stages, so we suggest backing her each way at that huge price ahead of the tournament.