The second Grand Slam of 2022 is finally here, as the attention turns to the clay surface in Paris. The French Open gets underway on Monday, with the top stars from both the male and female game in action in Paris. But, which stars could reign supreme on the clay surface in 2022?
Men’s French Open Preview, Odds & Pick
The Men’s French Open has been competed as a Grand Slam event since 1925, and this year’s competition will be the 92nd time that it has been competed. There are no prizes for guessing who the most successful player in the history of the event is, as Rafael Nadal has won 13 French Open titles throughout his career. However, the defending champion coming into the event this year is Novak Djokovic, who won his second French Open title last year.
The reigning champion is currently the favourite in the BetXchange betting market, as he is priced up at 19/20. Emerging Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz is the second choice, as he is available at 21/10. Meanwhile, 13-time champion, Rafael Nadal is a 36/10 chance. Last year’s beaten finalist, Stefanos Tsitsipas is a 9/2 chance.
Alcaraz certainly looks perfectly suited for a strong bid this year, as the 19-year-old recently beat both Nadal and Djokovic on his way to winning the Madrid Open. He comes into this event having reached a career-best quarterfinal stage in the US Open last year. His lack of Grand Slam experience may be a concern. The value in the betting is certainly Nadal, who has been favourite for the event throughout his career. But, it could be the passing of the guard this year, and we will be taking a chance on Alcaraz.
Prediction:
Women’s French Open Preview, Odds & Pick
The women’s Grand Slam events have been harder to predict over the past couple of years, as no woman has been able to dominate. Iga Swiatek won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open back in 2020, while Barbora Krejcikova was crowned the French Open champion last year. However, no player has successfully defended the Women’s French Open title since Justine Henin in 2006, which was the second of her three straight victories.
Swiatek is the clear favourite in the betting to win a second Grand Slam title with BetXchange. Confidence will certainly be high coming into the tournament, as the 20-year-old Pole didn’t drop a set when claiming victory in the Italian Open as a warm-up for the French Open. She has a win percentage of 88% in this event, which is higher than any other Grand Slam event.
Simona Halep is the second choice in the betting for the tournament this year, as the Romanian also looks for a second title. She reached the final in 2017, before finally winning the French Open the following year. Halep has regularly gone deep in this Grand Slam, as she has reached three finals since 2014.
However, this year we will be taking a chance on Ons Jabeur. The Tunisian star reached the final of the Italian Open earlier in the month, before being beaten by Swiatek. She also won the Madrid Open as a prep before the French Open.
Prediction:
