French Open 2010

[Selectabet]

Starts next week, 23rd May. Looks like Nadal is the one to beat 4/11ish.

Murray as big as 33/1 says it all really. Anyone got any reason to bet on this? Nadal too short a price to get involved I think. I've backed Tsonga in the past and expect him to come good at some point, he's 125/1 so will need to take a closer look at him.

[paulharper82]

Andy Murray is at 50/1 (on sportingbet) and for good reason. His clay court form this season is poor at best, it's by no means his best surface, and that man Rafael Nadal is a beast and almost untouchable on the Paris clay courts in Rolland Garros. Add to that he has a very tough first round draw against Richard Gasquet and I can see the Scot leaving Paris after day one to be honest with you.

Nadal to win it, almost definitely. So you have to look for some good each-way value. That comes from Nadal's compatriots I think. Fernando Verdasco and David Ferrer can both be backed at 50/1 and that seems incredibly good each way value in my book.

Viva Espana!

[Selectabet]

It's a good point you make about Murray bailing on Day one. Gasquet should be a tricky opponent, however his best performance at Roland Garros was R3 in 2005, he's only won 4 from 10 there. However his overall clay record is better at W49 L35.

Murray's career record on clay is slightly better at W54 L33 but not by much.

This handy site gives the H2H between the two http://www.tennis.matchstat.com/Compare/1075/674/7231 - looks like Gasquet has W3 to Murray's 1.

Given Murray's form since the Aussie Open the 2/1 (betfair) on Gasquet dumping him out looks pretty decent.

[paulharper82]

The few bits I have seen of Andy Murray this clay court season haven't been great. He's been poor since the Aussie Open final in January.

Head to head looks good for Richard Gasquet, but I think the home crowd on one of the show courts, will help the Frenchman to secure victory on day one against the Scot.

Is he really as short as 2/1 though? 3/1 and I'd have been definitely on it!

[Chayzo]

I with you on this one guys, I'd logged on to post the same but saw you'd beaten me to it!!

I think I'll be going for Gasquet even if the odds are quite short. He's won his last 10 games on clay although the opposition wasn't that strong. Murray has only won 3 of his 6 clay court matches. It's hard to see past anything other than a Gasquet win.

I might go with 3-1 Gasquet (8.5 with Boylesports) or 3-0 Gasquet (6.5 with bet365)

[Selectabet]

Looks like there's been a bit of money coming for Gasquet. Best price now 8/5 at Boylesports.

I better get on quick!

[Chayzo]

Just read the article below and maybe Gasquet isn't as much of a cert as we were thinking

http://www.sportinglife.com/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=tennis/10/05/23/manual_154425.html

[Selectabet]

You could be right Chayzo. Although it seems he's in pretty decent form.

The best line from that article was that he had been banned for "inadvertently taking cocaine" ?!?! WTF How is that even possible?

[Chayzo]

You could be right Chayzo. Although it seems he's in pretty decent form.

The best line from that article was that he had been banned for "inadvertently taking cocaine" ?!?! WTF How is that even possible?

Yeah, I did wonder about that, I'd love to hear how he managed to inadvertently take it!

[Chayzo]

According to Wikipedia Gasquet reason was:

On 9 May 2009, French sports daily L'Équipe reported that he had tested positive for cocaine in March 2009, following his withdrawal from a tournament in Miami. [3] On 5 June 2009, in an interview with the same newspaper, Richard Gasquet denies having taken cocaine notably quoting the fact that the amount found accounts for 1/10th of a rail line. [4] Gasquet was provisionnally suspended, but was later cleared due to his explanation that he had inadvertently consumed the drug after kissing a woman who had consumed it at a party. [5] As of 16 July 2009, he is thus able to compete again.

It's looking good for Gasquet he's just won the 2nd set tie break to go 2-0 up. I've got 3-0 and 3-1 Gasquet on!

[Chayzo]

Gasquet breaks Murray to go 3-2 up in the 3rd.

I'm starting to feel bad being happy that Murray's losing.

[Chayzo]

Murray recovered to break Gasquet's serve 3 times and it's now 2-1.

Might have to take a look at Murray's odds in running!

[Chayzo]

Can't believe how that turned around. Murray cruised the 4th and 5th sets after looking out of it at one point during the 3rd.

[Selectabet]

Yeah that was unlucky Chayzo. Good win for Murray, seemed like quite a game when I caught five mins of the 2nd set.

Who's this guy he plays next then?

[HDaniel]

I can't believe Melzer won against Ferrer. He really dominated him during that game. Never really noticed that player.