The Best Tennis Players Showcase Their Skills on the Clay of Roland Garros
Published May 27, 2018 by Florin P
Nadal is the overwhelming favorite to win the men’s competition, but this year’s Roland Garros race is wide open in the WTA.
For two straight weeks, Paris will become the capital of tennis as the best players compete at the Roland Garros. The Grand Slam tournament is the highlight of the clay season and perhaps the most popular of the big four. In the ATP circuit Rafael Nadal is big favorite to win the trophy once again after winning 79 out of 81 matches in this event. The race is wide open in the women’s competition, with half a dozen players having a decent chance at winning the trophy.
Roger Federer is the Big Absentee at Roland Garros
The Swiss tennis player will once again miss the opportunity of winning in France and will be left with the trophy won in 2009. Rafael Nadal is given odds of 1/2 by 10bet Sportsbook, shockingly low but justified by his track record. Without his biggest rival in the event, the Spaniard has to worry more about young and promising players. The same bookmaker prices Zverev and Thiem at 10/1, both of them with exceptional results this year.
Dominique Thiem has defeated Nadal three times in his career, including a victory this year in Madrid. Zverev came painfully close of achieving something similar, but had to concede defeat one week later in Rome. The next in line for a chance to win Roland Garros in 2018 is Novak Djokovic, who is given odds of 12/1. He still has a positive record against Rafael Nadal, but not on clay. Goffin, Cilic, Dimitrov, Del Potro and Wawrinka are all further down the line with odds that revolve around 40/1.
Serena Williams Not Favorite at Roland Garros
This is the first time in more than a decade that Serena Williams isn’t credited with the first chance to win Roland Garros. Clay was never her favorite surface, but even so bookmakers gave her the smallest odds year after year. She has missed the Australian Open and now that she returns to professional tennis, 888 Sport only gives her odds of 13/1. Another former champion here, Maria Sharapova is credited with the same chance and odds. Garbine Muguruza won the tournament two years ago and now has odds of 15/1.
Simona Halep is the current world number one and the top seed at the French Open. She has played the final twice, including the one lost last year against Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia. The Romanian was unable to defend her trophies in Rome and Madrid, but is still given odds of no more than 6/1. Elina Svitolina from Ukraine has emerged as a serious challenger for the top favorites. Punters can bet at odds of 7/1 at 888 Sport, which were lowered after her victory over Halep in WTA Rome final.
Dark Horses at Roland Garros 2018
At this edition of Roland Garros, tennis fans must prepare for the unexpected. There are few female tennis players that can cause major upsets in the late stages of the competition. Big serving Pliskova and Kvitova are not famous for their performance on clay, but have a real shot this year. They were outstanding in the first major tournaments played on this surface and chose to rest in the weeks preceding the Grand Slam.
2018 Australian Open winner Wozniaki and the winner of 2016 Kerber are given tempting odds of 20/1 by 10bet Sportsbook. They have the constancy, experience and quality needed to defeat anyone on the tour. Among the dark horses, it is worth mentioning Kasatkina and reigning champion Ostapenko.
