French Open day 1: Five super Sunday tips from first round fixtures
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | May 21, 2016
2016 French Open day one
- Sunday, May 22nd
- First matches scheduled on court: 10:00 BST
- Roland Garros, Paris
- Live on ITV and Eurosport
Clay court Grand Slam gets underway
The gruelling fortnight slog that it takes to win the French Open starts this Sunday, as top tennis pros from the ATP and WTA Tours take to the clay at Roland Garros.
While our tennis tipsters have already offered up some sensational specials bets ahead of this Grand Slam, thoughts now turn to first round matches and there are already some tasty ties to take advantage of.
Bearing that it mind, here are five worthy wagers for punters to consider from the first day of action in Paris:
Karlovic takes opening set in tiebreak
Big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic meets fellow veteran Albert Montanes of Spain in his men’s singles first round battle, and all three of their previous meetings have seen the first set go the distance.
Cunning Karlovic has won all of those, so a terrific 3/1 price says he will win the opener 7-6, especially as these wily, experienced tennis pros will give little away early on.
Troicki to defeat Dimitrov
The tie of the first round in the men’s singles draw has to be unseeded Grigor Dimitrov doing battle with Viktor Troicki in an all-Eastern European affair.
Unseeded Bulgarian player Dimitrov is actually favourite for this match, but has seen his form dramatically drop away. Serbia number two Troicki, meanwhile, won their last battle in Sydney and is 6/4 to repeat victory.
Chardy comes through Mayer match in four
Men’s 30th seed Jeremy Chardy is competing at his home Grand Slam for the 10th time in his career, and will have the French crowd behind him as he tackles Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer.
As he dropped a set to his fellow clay court specialist at the Canadian Masters last year, Chardy certainly appeals to win their latest encounter 3-1 at tasty 3/1 odds.
Brengle to beat Vesnina
While neither Madison Brengle of the USA nor Elena Vesnina has made much of an impression at the French Open over the years, there is some value in backing the American to overcome her more experienced Russian opponent.
Brengle looks a brilliant at 7/4 to beat Vesnina and bridge a gap of 20 places in the fluid WTA world rankings.
Watson to be given tough game by Gibbs
Great Britain’s Heather Watson has lost her only previous encounter with French Open first round foe Nicole Gibbs.
While the American won in Seoul on a hard surface in 2014, Watson is now knocking on the door of the women’s top 50, so looks well worth taking at 11/4 for victory in three sets.
Related
