2018 French Open guide: predictions, betting odds and TV details

Can anyone stop ‘king of clay’ Rafael Nadal
from winning again at Roland Garros?

Preview

The 16-time Grand Slam winner and defending champion is clear favourite with the bookies to see more
success on the clay in Paris. With no Roger Federer in France this
year, the Spaniard’s main challengers will be Germany’s Alexander
Zverev, Austrian Dominic Thiem, Belgian David Goffin and 2016
winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

“King of Clay” Nadal starts his French Open defence with a
first-round clash against Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov. Joao Sousa
or Guido Pella await in the second round, the Daily Express reports.

British No.1 Kyle Edmund, seeded 16th in France, takes on
Australian teenager Alex de Minaur in the opening round. Edmund is
Britain’s best hope with Andy Murray ruled out because of
injury.

For the full French Open men’s singles draw see RolandGarros.com.

Ostapenko starts title defence against
Kozlova

In the women’s singles Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko begins
her French Open title defence with a first-round encounter against
Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova.

World No.1 Simona Halep, a two-time runner-up in Paris, starts
her bid for a first Grand Slam title against Alison Riske of the
US.

Three-time winner Serena Williams is unseeded, the BBC reports, and she plays her first Grand Slam
event since the birth of her daughter last year. The American faces
Czech Kristyna Pliskova in the first round.

Maria Sharapova, the winner in 2012 and 2014, takes on a
qualifier first up in Paris and Sky Sports reports that the Russia could
potentially face Williams in the quarter-finals. 

Britain’s Johanna Konta and Heather Watson will also
compete in Paris. Konta faces Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva while
Watson goes up against France’s Oceane Dodin.

For the full French Open women’s singles draw see RolandGarros.com. 

2018 French Open guide

• When: Sunday 27 May to Sunday 10 June 
• Where: Roland Garros, Paris, France 
• Surface: clay 
• Official website: rolandgarros.com

Who are the defending champions?

Spain’s Rafael Nadal is the reigning French Open men’s
singles champion while Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko won the women’s
singles title in 2017.

When are the French Open finals?

The French Open women’s singles final is on Saturday 9
June and the men’s final is a day later on 10 June.

How to watch the French Open on TV in the
UK

ITV 4 will show free-to-air coverage of the
2018 French Open from Paris. ITV’s coverage will be presented by
John Inverdale and he will be joined by 18-time Grand Slam winner
Martina Navratilova, Marion Bartoli, Jim Courier, Mark Petchey,
Fabrice Santoro and Sam Smith. The broadcaster will also live
stream the action on the ITV Player.

French Open predictions

Henri Leconte, French tennis legend (via the Daily Express): “I think everyone bets Rafael
Nadal will win, but I think we’re going to have a surprise. I do
not know why but I feel the winner will be amazing this year in the
men’s box. I think someone from the new generation will finally get
their chance.”

Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated: “Elina Svitolina comes in
having won Rome, dispatching [Simona] Halep in a one-sided final.
But in Slams, Svitolina still needs to convince us [and herself]
she’s varsity over jay-vee. But, increasingly, you sense that the
breakthrough seems to be a matter of when, not if. We’ll say
now.”

Stanley Kay, Sports Illustrated: “Rafael Nadal is a decent
clay court player, eh? Just when you think the Spaniard can’t wow
us any further on his best surface, he reels off 50 straight sets
on dirt. Dominic Thiem and Sascha Zverev both put together nice
clay court seasons, but neither appears a worthy rival to Rafa – at
least not yet.”

Leye Aduloju, LiveTennis.com: “Nadal doesn’t exactly need
much help in his quest for an 11th French Open title, but the great
Spaniard has been lent a big hand by the draw, with his most
realistic title rivals set to cancel each other out in a
ridiculously heavy bottom half.”

French Open betting odds

Latest prices according to Oddschecker (as of 25 May). 

Men’s singles winner:

• Rafael Nadal: 3/7  
• Alexander Zverev: 10/1 
• Novak Djokovic: 13/1 
• Dominic Thiem: 14/1 
• David Goffin: 50/1 
• Juan Martin Del Potro: 60/1   
• Grigor Dimitrov: 66/1 
• Kei Nishikori: 66/1 
• Marin Cilic: 79/1 
• Stan Wawrinka: 90/1 
• Kyle Edmund: 250/1

Women’s singles winner:

• Simona Halep: 6/1 
• Elina Svitolina: 13/2 
• Maria Sharapova: 12/1 
• Jelena Ostapenko: 14/1 
• Serena Williams: 14/1 
• Garbine Muguruza: 15/1 
• Petra Kvitova: 63/4 
• Karolina Pliskova: 18/1 
• Daria Kasatkina: 22/1 
• Caroline Wozniacki: 25/1 
• Johanna Konta: 100/1