It’s almost time for the world’s greatest tennis stars to take to the clay courts at Stade de Roland Garros in Paris, France. As one of four major Grand Slams in the professional tennis world, the French Open is one of the most hotly discussed and widely watched events in the world.
Given the infamous challenge of the clay courts, you might even argue it’s the crème of the crop in terms of tennis competitions. Wimbledon, by contrast, doesn’t offer quite the same level of difficulty. The hype around the French Open is especially heightened this year because all eyes are on Paris and the upcoming Olympic Games. Those who find a way to attend the match will have even more fanfare than usual.
It kicks off on 20 May and continues until the champions are named on 9 June, almost running until the late July Olympic start. The tournament regularly features singles events for men and women, along with doubles entries and mixed doubles. Additionally, there’s a junior counterpart to the tournament and a wheelchair event.
If you’re new to tennis and haven’t watched the Roland-Garros event before, then the one thing you need to focus on is studying up on the tournament’s favorites. You can get ready for Roland Garros with the best promos right here, which make it easy to wager on any event. But before you finalize your wagers, take a closer look at the favorites and most promising underdogs.
Favorites (Men’s)
Last year’s champion is the legendary Novak Djokovic—but the Serbian all-star hasn’t quite pulled ahead this year. At the moment, he’s listed behind Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz is a relatively new quantity, having taken home his first major win at the 2022 US Open, followed by a push to the semi-finals last year at the 2023 French Open. Though he hasn’t lifted a trophy at Roland Garros, the experts agree that this might be his year—so long as his injuries aren’t cause for concern.
Djokovic will be working overtime to stop this—and he’s got the experience. In the last three years, he’s taken home three trophies from the French Open. He’s no stranger to the clay, and he’s always up for the challenge—especially after losing in the semifinals in Melbourne recently.
Alcaraz and Djokovic aside, there are two others jockeying behind them. First is Jannik Sinner, a newcomer with rising talent like Alcaraz. He’s already displayed incredible skill on clay courts. That will be a huge help at the French Open—one that can’t be overstated. But let’s not forget about 14-time Roland Garros champ, Rafael Nadal. Though he’s coming off an injury, he’s not easily swayed at the French Open.
Favorites (Women’s)
This year’s favorite to take the women’s singles is Iga Swiatek. Of five appearances on the clay courts of Roland Garros, she’s taken home three titles. That makes her one of the latest Queens of the Clay, able to adapt to the slower surface—but her lead in odds isn’t long by any means. Close behind is Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka has strong momentum as she’s coming off a big win at the Australian Open. She only has one French Open win under her belt compared to Swiatek’s three. Still, it’s worth noting that Sabalenka’s play has been tightening. She’s appeared in six straight major semifinals, one of which was last year’s French Open semis.
Lastly is up-and-coming star Coco Gauff. She doesn’t have the robust experience as her colleagues, but she’s incredibly hungry for a win and strong on the court. Back in 2022, she managed to fight her way to the Finals at Roland Garros, followed by a quarterfinals appearance last year. If you’re looking to back an underdog, Gauff is the one.
