French Open 2010

I was going to do a bit write up but I forgot this starts tomorrow and not in the best of moods as just busted the GUKPT.

Anyway, after picking a 9/1 winner and a 7/1 finalist last year I thought i'd start with the Womens and also with a but on a confession. I picked someone out a few weeks back and was going to post but forgot all about it. This years comp is so different to last years. Safina who got to the final is still struggling with her back issues and it seems to have had a knock on effect to her confidence. She doesnt anything like her former self and the same can be said for last years winner Kuznetsova. I wouldnt trust her at the moment to win one round let alone the tourney, so ive crossed them off straight away.

Serena on clay isnt a pretty site, however she could beat anyone but this is by far is least favourite service. She is 6/1 and thats a reasonable price for her and being the top seed she does have a reasonable draw. Justine Henin would be my choice until I saw her price. She is best priced 5/2 and that has drifted from 2/1 best price 2 weeks ago. For someone still on the come back trail I cant be backing her at that price. She is seeded 22nd and I know you have to beat everyone to win the comp but she is stuck in the middle of the draw and will have a lot of tough matches.

The one im really interested in is Aravine Rezai. Not many will have heard of her but I have mentioned her in a few previous tourney write ups as a wild outsider. This girl hits the ball hardest on tour, bar none. The way she gets her body through every shot is so impressive and there is simply no one that can handle her hitting .......... if it stays in. Now sadly she won a comp 2 weeks back beating Venus Williams in the final and therefore her price has tumbled. Skybet very kindly offered me £25 at 80/1 EW and another £25 @ 66/1 EW and ive just checked her price and am amazxed she is now 20/1 best price with Skybet and 888Sport. She has quite a basic serve but importantly doesnt really bottle the 2nd serve like a lot of the female tennis players do. She is solid on her shots and is monsterous of both wings. I thing the win of Venus will be a big boost for her confidence and could see her going well. She has an amazing draw in the bottom half. She breeze into the 3rd round where she faces a tricky game against Nadia Petrova and then the winner plays Venus and hopefully Rezai could repeat her performance. The one thing I havent mentioned is that she is French. The French crowd are possibly the most unsporting of the 4 majors and simply wont stop cheering or the mexican wave till their ready too ....... and even then they give themselves an annoying clap after. I think they would possibly stop this for Rezai and realy let her concentrate and they really could help get her over the line by getting on the back of her oppoents.

Of the other top players, Jankovic probably would be the most competition here. She moves well on the clay and has a decent game but tends to all away at the majors. Venus doesnt look overly coomfortable in the last few months on clay. The other player who could possibly do well is Li Na @ 80/1 but I want to see how she starts off before backing her.

Womens:-

Rezai @ 80/1 1/2 point
Rezai @ 66/1 1/2 point
S. Williams @ 6/1 1 Point
N. Petrova @ 100/1 1/4 point

As for the mens, well everyone has their own opinion on Rafa but @ 2/5 I cant say im too interested. Yes, he is incredibly good on Clay and should walk it but at 2/5 with his dodgy knees and other recent niggles im gonna try to get a bit priced outsider into the final. Off the imediate names that come to mind, Roderling, Federer and Gulbis are all in the same quarter and then are joined by Tsonga in the same half. Although Murray has a horrid opener he does have a very soft 1/4 although I would back him with anyone money at the French.

Im going to have a little stab at Tsonga. He is seeded 8 and has a pretty soft draw where he may face players like Robredo (past it), Garcia-Lopez (too inconsistent, prefers it quicker), and Youzhny (doesnt like clay). Tsonga should get to the 1/4's to face the winner of the Murray section and then go on to face Federer or whoever knocks Federer out. I wouldnt really fancy Tsonga chance against Fed but at 125/1 im willing to take the chance and then lay my stake back.

Novak Djokovic has the easiest draw of all the top seeds and is somehow still 20/1. He may face Rafa in the semis but Novak has beaten Rafa before on clay and does seem to cause him problems. Rafa also has a tough draw with Verdasco and Almagro in the same 1/4 of the draw. Should they meet in the semis Novak could cause an upset and at 20/1 is worth a stab.

Mens:

Djokovic @ 20/1 2 Points
Tsonga @ 125/1 1 point EW