French Open specials: 10 tempting tips for 2016 tournament
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | May 21, 2016
The clay court Grand Slam at Roland Garros is upon us, as Paris becomes the centre of the tennis universe for the next couple of weeks.
Never mind high-profile absences from the French Open like Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, there’s still plenty of money to be made by punters who know a worthy wager when they see one.
With that in mind, Coral’s tennis tipsters have come up with 10 specials markets that are too tempting to turn down; five for the men’s singles and as many for the women.
Nadal stage of elimination: fourth round
We mean no disrespect to the king of clay, but Rafael Nadal has made the quarter-finals of just two of the last six Grand Slam events he’s played at.
This may be his favoured surface, but the Spaniard is set for a last 16 encounter with impressive Austrian player Dominic Thiem. It is one that Nadal looks like losing to the younger man, and nifty 9/2 odds for a fourth round exit thus appeal.
Kerber wins ladies’ quarter 2
Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber is seeded third at Roland Garros, and should be aiming to make the business end of this Grand Slam following her early season exploits.
Breaking that tennis major duck is always a huge confidence boost to any pro, so Kerber looks well worth a wager at 5/2 to better her top French Open performance and make the semi-finals.
An ageing Venus Williams or Timea Bacsinszky could await in the quarters, while Kerber should have more than enough to come through a possible last 16 encounter with Australian-born British representative Johanna Konta.
Djokovic v Murray in men’s final
Novak Djokovic may be a hot favourite to win the men’s singles title and complete the career Grand Slam, but who will join him in the French Open final?
Great Britain’s Andy Murray is a patriotic punt at a terrific 2/1 to meet his Serbian foe and ATP world number one Djokovic in yet another major final at Roland Garros on June 5th.
Azarenka stage of elimination: quarter-finals
Belarus’ top tennis export Victoria Azarenka has bowed out of three consecutive Grand Slams in the last eight. With a likely quarter-final clash against WTA world number one Serena Williams coming up, all signs suggest that pattern will continue.
Azarenka should be shorter than 10/11 to be eliminated in the quarters, especially as potential second and third round foes Andrea Petkovic and Carla Suarez Navarro hold no feats for the fifth seed on this surface.
Top 3 men’s seeds make semis
Another who should be joining Djokovic and Murray in the latter stages of the French Open is defending men’s singles champion Stan Wawrinka.
Outstanding odds of 11/4 are available for all of these top three seeds to reach the semi-finals, and there is little to oppose the trio doing so at Roland Garros.
Any British woman makes fourth round
British representative Johanna Konta will once again carry the ladies’ singles hopes, and is the 20th seed for the French Open following her incredible run to the Australian Open semis.
Likely to meet Madison Keys of the USA in round three, who is no threat on clay, Konta has every chance of at least making the last 16 at a Grand Slam again.
Konta’s improvement has catapulted her up the WTA world rankings, and the even-money price on offer for any British woman to make the fourth round at Roland Garros is crying out to be taken.
Tsonga wins men’s quarter 2
Home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga invariably raises his game in Paris and, with doubts over Nadal’s ability to recapture former form, it could be worth backing this experienced Frenchman to win his quarter of the men’s draw.
Potentially playing Thiem in the last eight, Tsonga is already a top player, not up-and-coming. Punters are rewarded with a fine 15/2 price if siding with Tsonga to get to the semis, something he’s done on three of the last four French Open appearances.
Serena doesn’t drop a set
This record-breaking all-time Grand Slam great has it well within her to put together a faultless campaign on clay. Serena is simply a sensation, and we should enjoy her while she lasts.
Murray stage of elimination: semi-finals
Alternatively, should Murray meet Wawrinka as anticipated in the last four, then he has never beaten the Swiss on clay in three previous attempts.
Provided both perform to their expected high standards, Murray is an attractive 11/4 to bow out in the semis.
Radwanska wins ladies’ quarter 4
Second seed Agnieszka Radwanska is a fabulous 5/1 to win the fourth quarter of the women’s singles draw, and her potential last eight opponent Simona Halep has done very poorly in all but one occasion at Roland Garros.
It looks a straightforward path for the Pole to make the semis, and the above price really does look terrific value, with Radwanska’s section containing no real dangers.
Related
Check out Coral’s tennis page for more ahead of and during the 2016 French Open.
