Over 3/1 a big price on Nadal and Williams French Open double

Looking back across the Grand Slams of the last two years, it is obvious that backing the two favourites in a double to both triumph has proved a far from profitable strategy.

The double has not been achieved in any of the last seven Grand Slams, with Serena Williams the latest to botch such a bet when suffering an upset defeat to Sloane Stephens at the Australian Open.

Despite this particular streak, it is hard to put punters off the double of Williams and Rafael Nadal being crowned singles champions at the French Open and the 31/10 on offer for such a bet looks a fair price.

Although Nadal arguably has the toughest competition of the duo, he is priced as the bigger banker at 8/11 and justifiably so.

Seven French Open titles in eight years speaks for itself and his current form is as good as anything he has produced in the last 18 months.

He has won three clay-court tournaments on the bounce, which culminated in a demolition of Roger Federer in the final in Rome.

With Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro among those struggling with injury, his potential conquerors are reduced and in reality only Novak Djokovic has the capacity to push him close.

The big debate over Williams is that clay is undoubtedly her least favoured surface and she has previously only won the French Open once, while going beyond the quarter finals only once in her other 10 visits.

But, like Nadal, she has triumphed in three clay events in succession and will have a point to prove after suffering her only career Grand Slam first round exit at Roland Garros last year when a surprise loser to Virginie Razzano.

Furthermore, when considering her records against her biggest adversaries, Williams has won 12 on the bounce against Maria Sharapova and 11 of the last 12 when stepping on court with Victoria Azaranka. Williams is 11/8 to win the French Open.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publication