WHAT TO KNOW
Despite slipping to No.7, Rafael Nadal is still a strong contender to once-again repeat as champion at Roland Garros. Even his fellow players agree, noting that the ranking policy for the French Open should allow for a higher ranking for him, taking his success there into consideration much like Wimbledon does.
In any case, the 28-year old Spaniard has won the tournament nine times in the last 10 years. Nadal’s game is uniquely suited to the slower surface and high bounces that the red clay provides.
Nadal’s winning streak at Roland Garros is still intact, but his dominance on clay has already been called into question with Andy Murray bettering Nadal in Madrid.
Murray has long been considered an after-thought on clay, but on the heels of his latest win should be considered a threat in Paris, beating Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori and Nadal in straight days and straight sets.
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While his ranking doesn’t reflect it, Nadal has to be considered to have a good chance to take home the title once again. Aside from him, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are ranked one and two respectively with Murray in the No.3 spot. Federer has won the only French Open title not belonging to Nadal in the past 10 years while Djokovic has been Nadal’s opponent in the final two of the last three years.
It would be a bit of a shocker if anyone other than Nadal, Djokovic, Federer or Murray took home the title, though keep an eye on Nadal’s countryman David Ferrer.
Ferrer is actually ranked only one spot below Nadal, who himself would be considered a sleeper if not for his unbridled success in Paris.
The fellow Spaniard made it to the finals of the French Open back in 2013 before losing to Nadal. He followed up a strong 2013 with struggles on inconsistency in 2014, but has played well recently taking his 22nd ATP World Tour title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open and made it to the semis in Rome before Djokovic topped him.
Another sleeper option may be hometown Gael Monfils. He’s never made it past the semi-finals in the French Open, but has beaten Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray in his career. In fact, just this year, he topped Federer in straight sets at the Davis Cup final.
With Nadal looking mortal on clay in Madrid, it opens it up for someone to take him down in France. Robin Soderling is currently the only one to beat him at Roland Garros, but that may be about to change. Each of Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Murray has a realistic shot, though I have Djokovic. He is just too good right now.
He’s 35-2 on the year with five titles and just one loss in 15 matches against a top-10 opponent. He has shown he can beat the best.
Novak Djokovic to Win the 2015 French Open
The tennis online odds for the tournament will be first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on all of the matches between every commercial break with BookMaker's live betting feature. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
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