Who to bet on tennis when the 2016 French Open championship rolls around on May 16th? The usual suspects are, well, the usual, as we are about to see below.
2016 French Open Championship Favorites
Novak Djokovic. The No 1 tennis player in the world is naturally the tennis odds-on favorite to win the French Open – or any other tournament that he participates in, for that matter. Currently engaged in a war of words with colleague Andy Murray over whether or not the sport is clean. His denials that there is doping in tennis are deemed Armstrong-speak by some. But regardless of his naivete pertaining the ways of the world, he remains one of the greatest of all time and arguably the best there is at present.
Rafael Nadal. While some online gambling experts feel Nadal is a shoe in to win the French Open after his title victory at Monte Carlo. Others think that victory should be accompanied by an asterisk because he didn’t beat Djokovic or Federer. As Sports Illustrated Jon Wertheim writes, “Nadal will be a contender for the rest of his career… We lament that his consistency has slipped. But even that implies that he’s still capable of greatness. Even with a first round loss in Australia, he’s playing Top Five tennis in 2016.” ’Nuff said.
Stan Wawrinka. The former Stanislas is reigning French Open champion and looking forward to defend the title. And why wouldn’t he be? It’s where he began to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with after upsetting Djokovic last year. Despite recent setbacks, Wawrinka is happy taking the competition on clay-court tournaments. “Of course I am happy every year to return to clay. It’s a surface that I love. I’m happy with my progress in training so far,” Wawrinka said, reports the ATP’s official website.
Andy Murray. The Scotsman has a bone to pick with Djokovic – other than the doping argument, that is. The Serb beat Murray at the Australian Open, and Roland Garros is the perfect chance to get even. It would be great if they faced each other; it would be like trial by combat, and whoever wins is proclaimed to be right.
Roger Federer. Federer has a lot in common with the other bet on tennis favorites. He is Swiss like Wawrinka. Like Nadal and Djokovic he has won six ATP World Tour Finals, playing in the finals at all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments – and also like Djokovic is a multiple Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award winner. And he has had a storied rivalry with Murray. So what makes him different? Experience. Federer is older and has been a pro for longer than the other four contenders.