King of clay dethroned as his French Open odds continue to drift
Published:Depending on how you look at it, Rafael Nadal’s French Open odds could be the greatest bet of the year or the worst bet of the year.
Following a second consecutive final defeat to Novak Djokovic in Rome on Sunday, the king of clay’s crown is slipping and the Spaniard is now 10/11 to win his sixth French Open title.
The Internazionali BNL d’Italia win makes it four straight final victories for Djokovic over Nadal this season and the Serb is the heavily supported 5/4 second favourite to win the French Open.
Except Nadal’s last victory over Djokovic in a final was in last year’s US Open, and the Spaniard is unbeaten against the Serb in five Grand Slam head-to-head’s.
Those five Grand Slam wins include two victories in the French Open and should the two meet in the final at Roland Garros – it’s difficult to see anyone stopping either – Nadal will start the match as favourite.
Nadal’s French Open record reads played 39, lost one, and the Spaniard has lifted the trophy on five of the six occasions he’s competed at Roland Garros.
Robin Soderling is the only man to defeat Nadal on clay at Roland Garros in the fourth round of the 2009 tournament, but Nadal was carrying a knee injury during that tournament and was subsequently ruled out for 27 weeks.
There is no doubt Djokovic’s form is incredible and the Serb has been the star of the men’s tennis season thus far, but there comes a time when an unbeaten record becomes a burden and the extra pressure in a Grand Slam is not what the world number two wants.
The two currently dominate the French Open odds with Federer as long as 14/1 to claim the French Open title and punters are in for a great fortnight of tennis betting.
A £10 stake on Djokovic and Nadal contesting the three remaining Grand Slam finals would return £510. Sign up here to take advantage of a free bet worth up to £30.
