French Open Betting Preview and Analysis
The French Open gets started at Roland Garros this weekend, with an interesting twist as both the men’s and women’s champions from the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, will be absent.
On the men’s side Roger Federer, the 2017 Aussie Open winner, is taking a pass on the French Open this year to prepare for the rest of the tennis season. Even if Federer was taking part the favorite would still likely be Rafael Nadal.
Nadal, a nine-time French Open champion, is a -125 favorite to make it 10 at the Bovada Sportsbook. It has been four years since Nadal last won at Roland Garros in 2013, but he’s looked good in his tune-up tournaments this season having won three clay-court titles.
Following Nadal on the men’s French Open odds at the Bovada Sportsbook are Novak Djokovic at +300 and Andy Murray at +900.
Djokovic won his first French Open title last year after finishing runner-up three times prior. Murray is still looking for his first French Open title. His best finish at Roland Garros came last year when he lost to Djokovic in the final.
The best value for bettors right now could be Stan Wawrinka at +1000. Wawrinka was an upset winner of the French Open in 2015, when he took down Djokovic in the final.
On the women’s side it appears to be wide open with Serena Williams not taking part. The 2017 Aussie open champ may not be returning to the court for quite awhile after announcing her pregnancy earlier this year.
With Williams out and Maria Sharapova not able to get a wild card spot in the tournament only one of the last five French Open winners will be playing this year. That would be defending champion Garbine Muguruza, who upset Williams in last year’s French Open final. She’s a +900 underdog to repeat.
The Bovada Sportsbook favorite right now is Simona Halep at +350. Halep is still looking for her first Grand Slam and has appeared in only one final, the French Open in 2014. Top ranked Angelique Kerber is a +1400 underdog and has never advanced past the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
The only other former French Open champions in this year’s field include 2010 winner Francesca Schiavone at +10000 and 2009 winner Svetlana Kuznetsova at +1200.