Qualifier matches are underway ahead of the 2021 French Open, so the bracket will start to fill up in the coming days. Let’s take a look at some questions that will inform your sports betting choices in tennis’ only major that takes place on clay.
The spring has brought some new names out, so consider these insights as you start to think about your French Open wagering.
Tennis News: French Open Updates
The return to the spring helps the big hitters
Last year, the French Open was delayed until near the end of September because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament changed to a ball that was less lively than the equipment used in previous years, and the damp, cool weather also made it easier to catch up with some of the big hitters. Rafael Nadal won anyway, but offense was not as much of a premium. Nadal prefers to play when it is bright and warm, so he will get his wish in 2021, but the increased benefit will help everyone who prefers to hit the ball aggressively.
What about Coco Gauff?
The 17-year-old phenom just took Qiang Wang apart at the final in Parma, finishing with an avalanche of aggressive shotmaking. She has one other WTA title so far, in Linz, Austria. She entered Parma as the third seed and dealt with the accompanying pressure quite well. To win at Linz, she beat Jelena Ostapenko, a former French Open champ, and along the way became the youngest WTA player to take a singles title since 2004. Monica Seles won a French Open at the age of 16 years, 6 months, and Coco could plow through a women’s tennis field that is famously fractured in terms of consistent winners.
Does any other man have a chance at stopping Nadal?
One difference between the French Open and other clay tournaments where Nadal has been upset is the best-of-five set format. He has not lost a final on clay in a best-of-five tournament, and in all five-set matches on clay, his lifetime record is 125-2. The Court Philippe Chartrier, is particularly suited for his game because of its expansive proportions, which gives him more room to track balls down.
Does Naomi Osaka have a shot?
Osaka has already opted out of doing interviews for the sake of self-care, and her anxiety about playing on clay is already well known. She was ranked #2 in the world, just behind Ashleigh Barty, but the clay season has dealt her a 1-2 record in 1000-level tournaments in Rome and Madrid, while Barty made it all the way to the finals in Madrid, adding to her lead. Clay does present challenges, but learning how to slide has not stopped other contenders. Osaka has a game that is powerful and compact and would transfer well from the hard court to clay, so it sounds like the surface is in her head, at least for now.
Can Alexander Zverev or Stefanos Tsitsipas break through this year?
Zverev made it to the finals of the 2020 U.S. Open and has several Masters championships, including this year’s title at Madrid. He is very mobile for a 6’6” player and has tremendous power. He had won three matches in a row over Nadal until Nadal turned the tables at the quarterfinals in Rome. Tsitsipas has terrific power in his serve and forehand, and he also has considerable stamina. His record so far in 2021 is 33-8 overall, as he has fought his way to the semifinals of the last two majors.
Will another first-time women’s champion emerge this year?
The last back-to-back French Open champion in the women’s draw was Justine Henin, back in 2007, and the last former champion to win here was Serena Williams, six years ago. There are six former champions in this year’s field. Barty won here in 2019, and Muguruza took the title in 2016. Iga Swiatek is the defending champion, and all look strong. The most likely women to win for the first time are Sofia Kenin, last year’s runner-up, Bianca Andreescu, who has returned to health, and Aryna Sabalenka, who can nail shots perfectly.
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