French Open men’s final: Career Grand Slam looms for Djokovic in Murray match
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | June 4, 2016
Novak Djokovic v Andy Murray
- 2016 French Open men’s singles final
- Sunday, June 5th
- Scheduled on court: 14:00 BST
- Roland Garros, Paris
- Live on ITV and Eurosport
Murray remains outsider to add third Grand Slam title
ATP world number one Novak Djokovic has lost just one of five meetings on clay courts to 2016 French Open final opponent Andy Murray, but that defeat came in their most recent encounter at the Rome Masters a few weeks ago.
Serbian racket star Djokovic was also made odds-on favourite by Coral 12 months ago to finally end his wait to complete the Career Grand Slam at Roland Garros, but fell at the final hurdle to Stan Wawrinka.
Despite this, Djokovic is rated 1/3 to finally end his wait for French Open success because of his vastly superior head-to-head record over Murray at tennis Majors.
In nine previous Grand Slam encounters, Great Britain’s top player has tasted victory just twice. Murray thus starts as 12/5 outsider to add to his 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon successes here.
Djokovic has rarely missed a step
Dropping just one set en route to a third consecutive (and fourth overall) French Open final, Djokovic is undoubtedly in the better form. He’s won all six matches at Roland Garros without resorting to tiebreaks.
Murray, in contrast, has had a tough couple of weeks in Paris. Both his first and second round fixtures went to five sets, he then took tiebreaks when eliminating Ivo Karlovic and John Isner, and Murray also came through his quarter and semi clashes with Richard Gasquet and Wawrinka in four.
There’s no doubting who has played more tennis here, and that will have taken its toll on battling Briton Murray. Punters’ eyes are rightfully drawn to his French Open last four fight with Djokovic a year ago.
A match that went the distance, Murray rallied superbly from two sets down to force a decider, but collapsed thereafter. That tasty 12/5 price is also available on his latest Djokovic duel going over 4.5 sets.
Closest they’ve ever been on clay
In recent Rome and Madrid Masters matches, Murray has won the second set 6-3 on both occasions, and that is evidence he will not allow Djokovic to dictate proceedings as the Serb has in the past.
If you fancy Murray to record that precise scoreline again in set two, then awesome odds of 8/1 are well worth taking.
The top two seeds at this year’s French Open look as evenly matched as they’ve ever been on clay, so this should make for the most compelling tennis.
With Murray rated 4/9 to just a win set, punters who prefer safe investments should pile on that, but this has all the makings of another Grand Slam classic.
Fantastic prices on five set wins
So much is at stake for both. That elusive Career Slam for Djokovic; the chance to claim a third different Major for Murray.
The patriotic punt is to side with Britain’s best, and odds of 13/2 say Murray can win the French Open final 3-2.
As ever when Murray, the top postwar tennis pro produced in the UK, punters must decide whether to bet with their hearts or their heads.
Related
Coral’s top tip: The form of the 2015 French Open semi-final is particularly persuasive, and a repeat of that highlights the best bets. Take 12/5 for over 4.5 sets and, if gambling without the emotion of British involvement, 5/1 for Djokovic to beat Murray 3-2.
