The French Open is officially underway and it feels like tennis is getting back to normal. After all, the 2022 Australian Open was played without Novak Djokovic and there weren’t many fans on-site.
Can Djokovic make some noise at Roland Garros? Could a 19-year-old upstart beat the established stars of Roland Garros like Djokovic and Nadal? And which ladies are set to compete? Let’s take a closer look.
Men’s Draw: Djokovic, Alcaraz, Nadal Odds
Novak Djokovic (+200) is the current favorite to take it home. He had to take some time off of tennis due to his vaccination status but looks back and is ready to compete once again. He participated in a tournament in Belgrade and looked like he was easily able to shake off the rust. While his competition is going to be fierce, Djokovic could be extremely focused on this one. He’ll have to be as clay is his weakest surface.
Behind him is Carlos Alcaraz (+220) (pictured above), the young buck on the rise. He’s the star of the moment and his aggression could take him far in Paris. He is an incredible 28-3 on the year and has four titles. He beat Rafael Nadal, Djokovic, and Alex Zverev en route to the Madrid Open crown. Could that be an omen of things to come?
Don’t forget about Rafael Nadal (+400), who is still the King of Clay. The French Open is his most successful major but injuries are really starting to throw up some question marks over his overall game. He had a stress fracture in his ribs and a chronic foot injury that led to losses and missed time. If he can prove those injuries aren’t still affecting him, then there is a tremendous shot he comes away as the winner.
Women’s Draw: Swiatek, Halep, Badosa
Without a doubt, Iga Swiatek (-163) is the favorite amongst the women to win the French Open. Swiatek recently joined Serena Williams in winning four WTA 1000 trophies in just one season. She won five consecutive titles as well, joining Venus Williams in that category. This type of dominance can’t be ignored.
Simona Halep (+1400) is always a threat on clay. Halep has been able to win two Grand Slam titles and three final appearances. Some will say that she is the most accomplished female competitor for this current event. However, she is set in the same draw as Swiatek, which instantly reduced her chances. As it stands right now, the winner of that match would become the favorite.
One longer shot to keep an eye on is Paula Badosa (+1800). Badosa currently has a 29-9 record on clay since the start of 2020. The only issue with her play lately is that she hasn’t been able to hold onto her momentum this year. If Badosa is able to overcome the crowd and take down Ferro, she is easily considered among the most talented competitors this year.
Keep in mind that the women’s side is always a wild ride, so anyone can come out of nowhere to win. If you’re right with your picks, though, you could be in for a big payday.