FRENCH OPEN

FRESH from attending the royal wedding, the queen of women’s tennis, Serena Williams, will go into the French Open on Sunday night unseeded.

But the new mum will still give the Roland Garros Grand Slam a mighty shake. Pre-baby, Williams would generally be around the $3 mark or shorter for the French Open given she is arguably the greatest female tennis player of all time.

But this is her first major since last year’s Australian Open and she goes in as a $13 chance. That women’s tennis is so even with Serena sidelined has made for interesting betting markets, but now that she’s back, so too are the Serena supporters. One punter found the value irresistible, having $5000 on the former world No.1 at the $13 quote.

Ladbrokes has held Williams at that price, as they have Simona Halep at $6.50, despite another punter also parting with $5000 on the world No.1.

On the men’s side, while the “King of Clay” Rafael Nadal would be considered a good thing by many, punters have not been overly keen to back the injury-prone champion at his current price of $1.44. Second elect in the market, Alexander Zverev has been the best backed after winning the Madrid Open and is now into $8 to claim a maiden Grand Slam. If you fancy a bolter at big odds, Stan Wawrinka, who has had knee issues of late, is $51. Clay is his favourite surface and, if his body holds together along with that textbook one-handed backhand, he could be worth a shot.