French Open Odds: Three Players Who Can Dethrone Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a forehand against Daniil Medvedev of Russia (not pictured) in the men's singles final on day fourteen of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Image Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

The 2022 French Open odds send a loud and clear message to the tennis world: The top players in the world should thrive at Roland Garros during the two-week tournament that begins Sunday and runs through June 5.

On the men’s side, that’s 20-time Grand Slam and reigning French Open winner Novak Djokovic. Although 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz and 21-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal could make things interesting. After all, Nadal isn’t nicknamed “The King of Clay” because he has a penchant for making ceramic bowls. The veteran has dominated this event with 13 French Open titles in his career. However, injuries are a major concern in Nadal’s bid for a 14th.

The women’s singles draw tells a much simpler story: This Grand Slam is Iga Swiatek’s to lose. While there are a few challengers in the field (we’ll get to those momentarily), Swiatek enters this event on an incredible 28-match winning streak that dates back to February. Will anyone step in her way, or will the 20-year-old from Poland claim her second French Open title in three years?

Props.com breaks down the favorites, contenders, and best value picks in the men’s and women’s French Open odds market.

French Open Odds: Men’s Singles

PlayerOdds
Novak Djokovic+175
Carlos Alcaraz+200
Rafael Nadal+290
Stefanos Tsitsipas+750
Alexander Zverev+1800
Daniil Medvedev+3800
Casper Ruud+3800
Jannik Sinner+4800
Dominic Thiem+4800
Andrey Rublev+5500

Odds via FanDuel, updated as of 8:30 p.m. ET on May 18.

The Favorite: Novak Djokovic

Djokovic (+170) checks in as a healthy favorite on the French Open odds board. That’s not surprising, considering the world’s No. 1 ranked men’s player is seemingly at peak form after winning the Italian Open last week. Not only did Djokovic win that tournament, but he didn’t drop a set in Rome. That should give the defending French Open champ plenty of confidence heading into the event, which he also won in 2016.

Next In Line: Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal goes to his backhand to return a shot during his semifinal match against Novak Djokovic at the 2021 French Open
Image Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Alcaraz (+210) has captured the imagination of tennis fans around the globe. The 19-year-old has sailed up the rankings, currently sitting sixth in the ATP pecking order. The Spaniard has won four titles in his last six tournaments, which includes an exciting run through the Madrid Open several weeks ago. That tournament was played on clay (same surface as French Open), and Alcaraz notched buzzworthy wins over Djokovic and Nadal on his way to the crown. However, the Madrid Open has a best-of-3 format. Beating those top-ranked stars in a Grand Slam best-of-5 is a different story.

Rafael Nadal (+290) is aptly nicknamed “The King of Clay” thanks to his sheer dominance in the French Open. He has lifted the trophy at Roland Garros seven times in the last 10 years, including a four-year run that Djokovic halted last year. So why is Nadal listed third on this year’s French Open odds board? He’s battling multiple injuries, including a foot ailment that plagued him in the Italian Open last week. Will that flare up again? It’s hard to say, but … feet are kind of important in best-of-5 Grand Slam events.

Value Pick: Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas (+750) has the goods to make a run toward the finals. Most of the betting attention is on the three aforementioned favorites, but Tsitsipas could realistically contend with that trio. Stefanos, who enters the tournament as the No. 4-ranked player in the world, has always been a strong performer on clay. That includes a runner-up finish (to Djokovic) in last year’s French Open. In a recent interview, Tsitsipas admitted that his game translates better to the clay surface. He’s backed that up with three tournament titles on clay in the past two years, including a victory in Monte Carlo last month. Simply put, the +750 odds seem too long for a guy who many consider to be “The (Next) King of Clay”.

[table “frenchopenwomen22” not found /]

The Favorite: Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek attacks the tennis ball with a forehand against Naomi Osaka (not pictured) in the women's singles final in the Miami Open
Image Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Swiatek (-110) is the overwhelming chalk to claim the French Open for the second time in three years. Her current 28-match win streak includes a clean sweep through last week’s Italian Open. If the French Open odds told a story, it would begin with this: Swiatek will trounce her way through Roland Garros while extending her three-month stretch of dominant tennis. Essentially, this tournament is a referendum on Swiatek, who stands in at No.1 on the WTA rankings.

Next In Line: Simona Halep, Paula Badosa

Halep (+1000) arrives in Paris slotted No. 19 in the WTA rankings, but she’s second on the French Open odds board. The Romanian is a proven force at Roland Garros, having won the tournament in 2018. Having said that, Halep hasn’t cleared the quarterfinal stage in two clay events over the past month. She was bounced by Ons Jabeur in the Madrid Open quarterfinals, then dropped out of the Italian Open after a loss to Danielle Collins in the Round of 32.

Value Pick: Ons Jabeur

Jabeur (+1800) finds herself at No. 6 in the WTA rankings. Last week, she made it to the finals of the Italian Open before bowing out to Swiatek. That’s part of a solid run that has seen Jabeur reach the quarterfinals or better in all four clay events this year. That includes winning the Madrid Open and finishing runner-up at the Charleston Open in April. Reigning French Open women’s singles winner Barbora Krejcikova is battling injuries ahead of this year’s event, which opens the door for someone else to challenge Swiatek. Why not Jabeur? She’s proven herself on clay up to this point.