Nadal, Djokovic Look To Hold Off Newcomers In 2019 French Open

Can you believe it? The sun is finally out, the parkas feel like they can safely be put away, and the French Open is starting. It really, truly must not be winter anymore.

Yes, the clay courts are back, giving anyone who’s ever faced Rafael Nadal nightmares (as well as anyone who’s ever done laundry.) 

For what seems like forever, we’ve been saying that there’s going to be a change at the top of the leaderboard in men’s tennis. But, year in and year out, it continues to be your choice of Nadal, Federer, or Djokovic coming out on top of almost every men’s Grand Slam tournament. (Of the past 61 Grand Slam tourney winners, only ten haven’t been one of those three.) 

And yet here we are again, in 2019, looking at the betting favorites for the French Open, and who are we talking about again? Spoiler alert, it’s those guys.

Favorites

Rafael Nadal (+110)

Since 2005, only three other men not named Nadal have laid claim to the French Open crown. For those too lazy to do the math, that’s 11 titles in 14 years! And this year, despite a less than stellar season, Rafa looks to be in fine form at just the right time. Just as everyone was writing him off after clay court losses at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid, this past weekend he looked dominant again as he beat Djokovic at the Italian Open. Are you one to say, maybe this is the year he falters? Maybe it’s somebody else’s turn? At +110, not too many folks agree with you.

Novak Djokovic (+225)

Before he was stopped in Rome, Djokovic seemed unstoppable. And while he had many valid excuses for the loss (the biggest being that his quarters and semis matches the previous 2 days went a combined 5 and a half hours) he knows the monster that is Nadal on clay. His form over the past year has been otherworldly, and coming on the heels of three consecutive Grand Slams, a win in Paris would complete his second career “Nole Slam.” He’s won here before in 2016, but now can prove that he is worth his #1 ranking. How strange that someone so good could actually be a decent bet at +225?

Roger Federer (+2000)

Of the three rulers of the court, Roger Federer feels the closest to being at the end of his career. Of course, we say this of the player that is currently ranked number 4 in the world. But, c’mon, someone has to show some age, and, at 37, he’s 5 years more senior than Nadal. In regards to the French, it’s a tourney that Federer usually skips as he gears up for the grass courts of Wimbledon, but this year, perhaps seeing the sunset on his career soon, he’s gone all in. And he has a history here, complete with 4 different matchups in the finals against Nadal (all losses.) At +2000, this pick feels very Tiger at Augusta,with some nostalgia and good feelings carrying him to a title.

Dominic Thiem (+600)

Finally, a new name in the world of men’s tennis! If you follow tennis, though, Thiem isn’t new at all. He’s already won this year at Indian Wells and Barcelona, and he’s coming off a loss in the finals of last year’s French Open to Nadal during which most viewed him as a future star of the clay courts. One of these days, he will break through and start his own traditions of winning majors. At +600, oddsmakers are on the fence about whether this is the year. Check of the draw on Thursday to see when and how many of the big three he might have to face, and make your bets accordingly.

Alexander Zverev (+3300)

How predictable has men’s tennis become? The fifth best odds to win a Major is at +3300. The stats don’t lie. Those who are favored usually win. So seeing Zverev, who alongside Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas are waiting for their turn at the top of the men’s tennis world, as such a longshot has to get you drooling a bit. This season alone, he’s defeated both Federer and Nadal, losing to Djokovic in the final in Madrid. Again, at +3300 it could pay off big.

Whatever happens, it’ll be a fun few weeks in Paris.