The French Open gets underway on Sunday as the second Grand Slam begins with some big names in action across the two singles draws which is good for those who want to get stuck into the tournament early.
As ever in the early rounds of these tournaments we have some big names having to cover some big handicaps but there a few matches which are a little closer to 50/50 for us to have a go at if, like me, you think it is too early in the event for risking massive handicaps.
Men’s Matches
The big names on show on the men’s side of the draw on Sunday are Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic and John Isner among others. When you think there are only eight courts in use that is a pretty decent line up to kick off with.
Nishikori and Raonic should cruise into the next round but as I hinted above both have sizeable handicaps to overcome. I expect them to do it but opponents with nothing to lose on the opening day of the tournament can put up more of a fight than they should do which puts me off them so I’m sticking to the 50/50 looking matches on the opening day.
I have to admit I’m kicking this event off slowly. This one is a marathon in more ways than one so I’m not one to go steaming in. I’m much more selective in this tournament especially in the early stages.
I’m tempted to take Viktor Troicki to see off Grigor Dimitrov but I don’t really trust the Serb enough to get the job done there so I will stick with the home hope who has been shoved on Chatrier and is guaranteed the crowd support.
That is Jeremy Chardy, who has had some decent results here in the past. He was dumped out unceremoniously by Andy Murray here last year after he had seen off the likes of David Goffin and John Isner and he showed some signs of life in Rome a couple of weeks ago before he ran into Murray again who beat him up again.
I’m not too concerned with how well Chardy is playing in fairness because his opponent in the first round Leonardo Mayer is having a really shocking time of things this season. Apart from a win over Victor Troicki in Indian Wells the highest ranked player Mayer has beaten this year is 52 and generally when he comes up against those in the top 32 he is found to be short of what is required.
Mayer’s form isn’t encouraging at all so the last thing he probably wanted here was a clash with a home man who is going to have a day one crowd behind him right at the end of the first day. With that crowd and form on his side I’m with Chardy here.
Women’s Matches
Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Garbine Muguruza are the big seeds in action in the women’s draw on Sunday and just like with the top men they are expected to come through with plenty in hand but we know it doesn’t always work that way.
From a British point of view there is interest as Heather Watson takes on Nicole Gibbs in a match the Brit will win if she is at her best but which she has the potential to lose if she isn’t so it will be interesting to see how that one plays out.
As with the men I’m not going steaming in here. I’m going with just the one bet and that is on an Alison Riske who still has enough about her to see off the improving but potentially slightly out of her depth Viktorija Golubic.
Most of Riske’s best form this year came at the start of it where she made the final in Shenzhen but recently she has taken sets of Sam Stosur and Madison Keys in defeat so she is battling nicely.
Golubic has a few wins behind her this season but they have mostly been at the level below the main tour and while she has done well to qualify for this tournament I’m not convinced she goes much further. Aside from the Fed Cup, Golubic hasn’t beaten anyone inside the top 100 in the world all season so that suggests Riske should be too good for her here.
Tips
WON – Back J.Chardy to beat F.Mayer for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with NetBet
Back him here:
Back A.Riske to beat V.Golubic for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Coral
Back her here:
