Nadal and Halep Emerge as Favorites at the France Open of Roland Garros
Published May 28, 2017 by Florin P
The 116th edition of the Roland Garros brings together 256 of the finest tennis players worldwide, despite notable absentees (11:00 a.m UK Time).
A new edition of the France Open of Roland Garros begins on Sunday and some of the best men and women in tennis are expected to join. This year there are several players missing in both competitions, with the latest tournament being the most affected by these absentees. Roger Federer is the most important player to miss the French Open, after winning the Australian Open in February.
Those who prefer to watch the women’s competition will be disappointed to hear that Serena Williams will miss the tournament due to her pregnancy. Maria Sharapova was declined a wild card for substance abuse and her current rating doesn’t allow her to participate. Azarenka is still mending an injury and has announced her absence from the most important tournament on clay. All these absentees have changed the calculations bookmakers made ahead of the French Open and the odds reflect it.
Rafael Nadal is Head and Shoulders Above Competitors
The Spanish tennis player has won more Roland Garros trophies than any other player in history. His dominance on the French clay was brought to a screeching halt by injuries, but now he seems capable of returning into the spotlight. Rafael has won the tournament in Madrid and only lost in the semifinals of the Rome open. He is currently credited with the first chance and odds of 4/5 to win the tournament.
Novak Djokovic is the second favorite with odds of 3/1, after struggling in the final months of 2016 and the first quarter of this year. World number one Andy Murray comes in third after struggling as well and bet365 sports gives him odds of 9/1. Interesting enough, he is tied with Dominic Thiem as the third favorite, after the young Austrian player has defeated Rafael Nadal in Rome. Former French Open winner Stan Wawrinka comes next with odds of 12/1 after alternating victories and defeats in 2017.
Simona Halep Has a Great Chance to Win Her First Grand Slam
The Romanian tennis player fell from the second place in 2017, but has returned to form in May. She is yet to win a grand slam tournament and this looks like the best opportunity for her, and given the numerous absentees. With Serena Williams out of the French Open picture, the race is wide open and bet365 regards her as the main favorite with odds of 10/3. The big concern is the fact that she suffered an injury in the final stage of the Rome tournament which could lead to an early exit from Roland Garros.
Elina Svitolina made giant leaps forward this month after defeating Halep in Rome and she is currently the second favorite with odds of 8/1. The reigning champion Garbine Muguruza is in third with odds of 10/1, but she is also nursing an injury sustained in a Rome. Mladenovic and Pliskova are tied with odds of 16/1, with the former being in great shape, while the latter benefited from being the second seed. The world number one and two times grand slam winner Angelique Kerber is struggling with a back injury. It forced her to retire from two tournaments and that’s why bookmakers give her odds of 16/1 as well.
Dark Horses and Potentially Surprising Players
Perhaps the most likely player to cause an upset in Paris is Alexander Zverev, who won the tournament in Rome at the expense of Novak Djokovic. His odds shrank from 70/1 to no more than 16/1 and they’re expected to go even lower after kickoff. Juan Martin del Potro, Raonic, Dimitrov and Goffin are all given odds of 50/1 and are less likely to win the French Open. In the women’s tournament, clay specialists Kiki Bertens and Carla Suarez Navarro are given odds of 40/1. Despite their recent struggles, Johanna Konta and Dominika Cibulkova shouldn’t be dismissed either.
