Take Your Pick: The Women’s Field at Roland Garros Is Wide Open

What were you doing in 2007?

Watching Peyton Manning finally win a Super Bowl?

Celebrating the Raiders pick of Jamarcus Russell?

Buying the very first iPhone?

Or were you unwittingly seeing the last time a woman won back to back titles at a French Open?

Yes, the last time there has been a repeat women’s champ in Paris was 12 years ago, when Justine Henin won the last of her three successive French Open titles. Since then, there hasn’t been a dominant clay court women’s player able to string together back to back Open wins since. Will this be the year things change? 3^rd ranked Simona Halep sure hopes so.

Here’s a look at some of the top contenders.

Simona Halep (+450)

As mentioned above, Halep is the returning champ, so everyone will be gunning for her. The fact that she doesn’t have Nadal-level odds for her does hint at the fact that people believe that this is another year with another new winner. There is some level of concern, whether it’s her form (she lost in the final of the Madrid Open, as well as in her first matchup in the Italian Open) or her injury status (she received treatment near the end of her loss in Rome.) But maybe her early exit in last week tournament just gave her more time to rest for the upcoming two weeks. 

Serena Williams (+2000)

Just like Roger Federer in the men’s bracket, there seems to be a Tiger Woods factor in play for Serena at the French Open this year: one last rousing victory for one of the veterans who most (including oddsmakers, I mean +2000!) have written off. She’s got a number of things going against her, the biggest being a bunch of health questions. (She has retired in three of the last four tournaments in which she’s played.) Then again, she’s won this tournament 3 times, the last only 4 years ago. And she’s Serena Williams. That’s good enough for anyone.

Kiki Bertens (+900)

At +900, Bertens is a great pickfor someone who wants to make money but not go too far out on a limb. She has had an amazing season so far, with two titles under her belt, with wins against the favorite Halep in both final matches. She’s done well in both clay court warmups, including a win in Madrid. She seems ready to break through and win a Grand Slam.

Petra Kvitova (+1500)

Way back in 2012, Kvitova reached the semis at the French Open, and seemed to be well on her way to being a mainstay in the late rounds of the tournament. Since then, however, she hasn’t been a factor in Paris, her best result since being a 4^th round exit in 2015.She’s had a quietly great season so far, however, including a tough loss to Naomi Osaka in the Australian Open Finals, and a win in Germany in late April. Despite being the 6^th ranked player in the world, she’s listed at +1500, so she might be a good one to take for a safe but healthy windfall.

Karolina Pliskova (+1500)

The newly minted 2^nd ranked in the world, Pliskova is coming off a huge win on the clay courts of Rome. Before that she lost in the finals in Miami, and the semis at the Australian Open to Osaka, giving her a nice string of showings entering this week. Historically, success in Rome has meant success in Paris. At +1500, one hopes that that would be the case for Pliskova.

Johanna Konta (+5000)

The biggest underdog on the list shouldn’t be this much of an underdog at +5000. After sound wins against Sloane Stephens and Venus Williams (in the same day!) on her way to the final, the Brit lost to a highly-motivated Pliskova. She also lost in the final in Morocco, but not before beating the 2^nd and 4^th seeds along the way. She’s someone to keep an eye on, and, if she follows through on her past success, could win you big money. 

Grab a baguette and a good bottle of red and enjoy. And of course Good Luck!