2013 French Open Betting Favorites
It seems like just yesterday that the 2012 French Open kicked off at Roland Garros in Paris, but already a year has passed, and today (Monday, May 27) marks second day of the 2013 French Open, which runs until Sunday, June 9.
Premier Players at 2013 French Open
As usual, the world's premier clay tennis tournament has attracted the world's best players from all over the world.
In terms of the men who are most favored to win the men's singles championship, the usual suspects are once again riding high at land and online sportsbooks. They are led by the undisputed "king of clay" Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, world number 1. These two players share a long and illustrious rivalry who, in this writer's opinion, bring out the absolute best in each other on clay.
Nadal will be seeking his eighth French Open title, and provided he is not sidelined by injury, should have a better than good chance of pulling it off. It won't be lost on punters that have chosen to back the Spaniard that the only time he has lost in Paris was in 2009 by Robin Soderling. That was the year Roger Federer won his first and so far only French Open.
Since then, Nadal has dominated the men's singles in Paris. But the big 2013 French Open betting question is whether Djokovic can pull something new out of his repetoire this year to beat Nadal and Federer, and snag his first French Open? For my betting dollar, the answer is nope. I see Nadal all the way again this year.
French Open Men's Singles Winner Odds
Rafael Nadal - 2/3
Novak Djokovic - 5/2
Roger Federer - 9/1
David Ferrer - 16/1
Tomas Berdych - 33/1
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 50/1
Ernests Gulbis - 80/1
Stanislas Wawrinka - 80/1
Grigor Dimitrov - 100/1
Nicolas Almagro - 100/1
In terms of the women's singles championship, at the top of the betting favorites pile - unsurprisingly - are Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka. Between these three players, no tournament title is safe as they rack up win after win.
Despite winning her one and only French Open title way back in 2002, Serena is this year's favorite to win at Roland Garros. No doubt the reason for this is how well she has played over the last year, where she won Wimbledon, the US Open, the WTA Tour Championships and Gold at 6 the London Olympics.
But snapping at her heels will be second betting favorite and defending French Open women's singles champion Maria Sharapova. The question is whether Sharapova can find that winning form from last year and use it to overcome the sheer dogged determination the younger Williams sister is famous for? For betting dollar, the answer is another nope. I see Serena triumphing this year.
French Open Women's Singles Winner Odds
Serena Williams - 8/11
Maria Sharapova - 9/2
Victoria Azarenka - 7/1
Li Na - 12/1
Sara Errani - 22/1
Samantha Stosur - 25/1
Petra Kvitova - 40/1
Ana Ivanovic - 50/1
Agnieszka Radwanska - 66/1
Angelique Kerber - 80/1
