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ODDSbible Tennis: French Open 2017 Betting Preview

ODDSbible Tennis: French Open 2017 Betting Preview

Nadal to claim tenth Roland Garros title?

Anonymous

Anonymous

One of the four major grand slams in tennis, played on clay and in the heart of Paris, Roland Garros is always an iconic tennis championships which sees the finest players engage in electrifying rallies on courts Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen.

This year's tournament is shaping up to be another superb event and our man Danny Archer has seeked to pick out the best value...

Men's Singles

The market for this year's tournament is headed by nine-time winner Rafa Nadal who has been in electrifying form this year. Second to Roger Federer, who has decided to sit out the clay-court season to prolong his career, in the Australian Open, Nadal has looked back to his imperious best on the clay.

Winners of the Masters 1000 events in Monte-Carlo and Madrid with a Barcelona ATP 500 win sandwiched in between, Nadal has looked oh so comfortable on his favoured surface. Beaten by Thiem in the Italian Open in his latest tournament, the Austrian played superbly that day and with hindsight, that defeat has given Nadal extra time to prepare for this tournament and he therefore comes into Roland Garros as a worthy favourite.

Image result for rafa nadal
Image result for rafa nadal

His side of the draw is tough and he could come again Gilles Simon in Round Three who would certainly give him a test and then American Jack Sock in Round Four who has a potent forehand and big serve. It also looks likely that Nadal would face Djokovic in the semi-final which would be a tantalising prospect for tennis fans.

However, I think Nadal and his legion of fans recognise that if their man is going to add to his 14 grand slam victories, a 10th victory in Paris is where he is most likely to add to that record.

As for Britain's finest, Sir Andy Murray, the Dunblane-born Briton has so far struggled to rediscover his form of the back-end of last season. Beaten by serve and volley specialist Mischa Zverev in the fourth round of the Australian Open, Murray then had a couple of injury problems including shingles and he has been very disappointing on the clay so far this year. Beaten by Fabio Fognini in the second round of the Italian Open, Murray also suffered shock losses to Ramos-Vinolas in Monte-Carlo and Coric in the Madrid Open, both in the third round.

A three-set semi-final defeat to Dominic Thiem in Barcelona has been his best result on the surface this year. With further injury worries at the start of this week after Murray was forced to not train on Monday and Tuesday is also a slight worry and with Murray's run to the final potentially including a third-round match against the Tower of Tandil Del Potro, a quarter-final clash with Nishikori before a semi-final with Stan the Man Wawrinka, he will have to be at his absolute best to reach the final again.

Image result for andy murray
Image result for andy murray

As for last year's champion Novak Djokovic, who would have thought his form would capitulate in the way it has. Beaten by Sam Querrey in the third round of Wimbledon, Djokovic lost to Wawrinka in the US Open final and then the ATP World-Tour Finals to Murray. This year has not been easy for Djokovic easy and he was beaten last weekend by 20-year-old Next Gen hope Alexander Zverev who blunted the Serb brilliantly.

Having broke up with coach Boris Becker and the rest of his team in recent times, the former World No.1 will be coached by Andre Agassi in Paris and with a run which include a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with Dominic Thiem, he will have to rediscover his best form.

As for the rest of the field, youngsters Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem are close up in the betting and that is deservedly so. Zverev won the Masters 1000 in Rome last weekend, beating Djokovic in the final, whilst Thiem has consistently reached the semis and quarter-finals of clay-court tournaments so far this term. He grew up playing on clay courts and he looks a real star in the making.

Image result for dominic thiem
Image result for dominic thiem

More established stars include Kei Nishikori, who continues to be blighted by injuries and Wawrinka whose clay court season got back on track with a three-set victory in the final of the Geneva Open yesterday. Wawrinka won in Paris in 2015 and therefore has a liking for the clay but he has a very tough run with potential match-ups including talented Italian Fognini (3rd round), mercurial Frenchman Monfils (4th round), Cilic in the quarter-finals and then potentially world no.1 Murray in the semi-final. The Tower of Tandil Del Porto is also one to consider at a big price but he would have to beat Murray in the third round.

Verdict

With concerns over the form of Djokovic and Murray, it is arguable that Rafa Nadal is value at 10/11 with Sky Bet to land a 10th French Open. He has been in imperious form on the clay so far this term and has arguably the best half of the draw. If Nadal is going to win another Grand Slam, it's arguable that this is his best ever chance of gaining Grand Slam no.15. With that in mind, I think Betway's 4/7 on Nadal reaching the final is also cracking value.

I have concerns over Murray's form at the moment and he will need to improve massively on his recent clay-court form to take a hand here. However, 5/2 with Bet Victor on Murray winning the First Quarter of the draw looks decent value. Alexander Zverev, Nishikori and Delpo are in that part of the draw but I fancy Murray to show his class this fortnight with a Grand Slam on the line. I'm also keen on a dabble at 4/1 with Betway on Murray reaching the final. If he can get a run of form going, I think he could make it to the final.

Image result for stan wawrinka
Image result for stan wawrinka

Wawrinka is also a massive price at 9/4 with Ladbrokes to win the Second Quarter of the draw. Tsonga, Kyrgios, Cilic and Monfils are all talented but if Wawrinka can get through the early rounds, he seems to always peak in the second week of a major.

As for naming the finalists, I think Nadal is a banker so A Murray/R Nadal final at 11/2 with Stan James or S Wawrinka/R Nadal final at 6/1 with Stan James is the way to go.

Women's Singles

Serena Williams' absence from Paris due to her pregnancy has opened the women's singles event up no-end and that means plenty of value is floating around.

I'm very keen on the chances of Simona Halep to win at 11/2 with Betfair. She has roared into form on the clay this season with a title win in Madrid followed by a narrow defeat in the Rome final last week. She is a big game player and is evidently most comfortable on this surface. She has had a couple of injury worries heading into the event but in my opinion, she is one of the best clay-courters around and I really fancy her to go close this year. With that in mind, Halep to win the 3rd Quarter at 5/2 with Betfred is also well worth backing.

Image result for halep simona
Image result for halep simona

My other two fancies at bigger prices are Kristina Mladenovic to win at 14/1 with Bet Victor and Sam Stosur to win at 40/1 with Bet365. Mladenovic lost to Halep in Madrid and has made a really bright start to the season. She is in front of a home crowd and whilst she lacks the experience of big matches in the second week of a Grand Slam, this looks a wide-open event and she looks worth chancing.

At a massive price, Stosur is undoubtedly hugely talented but has the tendency to throw in some really poor performances. However, she won the title in Strasbourg last week and looked back to something like her best during that winning run. She will obviously need to play very well and beat some big names in the next fortnight to reach the final but 40/1 is such a big price, I'm keen to take the risk on the Australian.

Selections

Rafa Nadal to win the Men's singles French Open - 10/11 Sky Bet

Rafa Nadal to reach the Men's singles French Open Final - 4/7 SkyBet

Andy Murray to win the 1st Quarter of the Men's draw - 5/2 Bet Victor

Andy Murray to reach the Men's singles French Open final - 4/1 Betway

Stan Wawrinka to win the 2nd Quarter of the Men's singles draw - 9/4 Ladbrokes

A Murray/R Nadal final - 11/2 Stan James

S Wawrinka/R Nadal final - 6/1 Stan James

Simona Halep to win the Women's singles French Open - 11/2 Betfair

Halep to win the 3rd Quarter of the Women's singles draw - 5/2 Betfred

Kristina Mladenovic to win the Women's Singles French Open - 14/1 Bet Victor

Sam Stosur to win the Women's Singles French Open - 40/1 Bet365

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