New York, NY (May 18, 2005) – Sportsbook.com has posted odds on the French Open, the second Grand Slam event of the tennis season which starts Monday, May 23. While past US champions of this event such as Andre Agassi and Serena Williams are in the field, no American players are among the favorites to take home the title.
On the men’s side, the top favorites are Spanish stars Rafael Nadal (2-1), currently one of the hottest players on the tour, and past champion Juan Carlos Ferrero (7-1) as well as last year’s two finalists from Argentina, defending champion Gaston Gaudio (10-1) and Guillermo Coria (7-2). Joining them is world number one Roger Federer (5-2) of Switzerland.
On the women’s side of the draw, Belgian sensations Justine Henin-Hardenne (13-10) and Kim Clijsters (7-2) lead the pack despite missing much of the season due to injury. They are followed by Serena Williams (4-1), the lone American among the top six. Andy Roddick (30-1) has the best odds for American men.
‘The best US players are not at the top of their game right now and the European and South American players usually dominate on the slower clay surface,’ says Peter Childs, Odds Maker, Sportsbook.com. ‘It’s tough to foresee an American winning the title, but the French Open is the most unpredictable Grand Slam.’
Other prominent US players expected to play in this year’s event include Andre Agassi (40-1) on the men’s side and Lindsay Davenport (10-1), Venus Williams (12-1) and Jennifer Capriati (25-1) representing the women. Defending women’s champion, Russia’s Anastasia Myskina has odds of 18-1 to repeat her performance this year.
Below is a selected list of odds for both the men’s and women’s tournament.
French Open – Men
Rafael Nadal (Spain) – 2-1
Roger Federer (Switzerland) – 5-2
Guillermo Coria (Argentina) – 7-2
Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) – 7-1
Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) – 10-1
Marat Safin (Russia) – 12-1
Carlos Moya (Spain) – 15-1
Richard Gasquet (France) – 20-1
Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) – 25-1
David Nalbandian (Argentina) – 25-1
Andy Roddick (United States) – 30-1
Andre Agassi (United States) – 40-1
Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) – 55-1
French Open – Women
Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) – 13-10
Kim Clijsters (Belgium) – 7-2
Serena Williams (United States) – 4-1
Maria Sharapova (Russia) – 5-1
Lindsay Davenport (United States) – 10-1
Amelie Mauresmo (France) – 10-1
Venus Williams (United States) – 12-1
Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) – 14-1
Elena Dementieva (Russia) – 16-1
Anastasia Myskina (Russia) – 18-1
Jennifer Capriati (United States) – 25-1
Mary Pierce (France) – 60-1
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