Women’s French Open Odds and Analysis

With World No. 1 Justine Henin coming into the tournament as the clear odds-on-favorite to win her fourth consecutive Grand Slam at Roland Garros, from May 25-June 8, the tournament may not be nearly as exciting as the suspenseful 2008 Aussie Open in which I predicted Henin would fall to World No. 5 Maria Sharapova before going on to predict that Sharapova would thoroughly trounce World No. 3 Ana Ivanovic in the women’s finals.
 
Still, Henin’s name is not etched in stone as the unchallenged winner – and the rise of several young female players could throw either side of the draw into a topsy-turvy state that makes many matches hard to predict.
 
Here is a look at the odds on each player winning the 2008 French Open, followed by a brief comment on each player’s realistic chances.
 
Odds To Win the 2008 Women’s French Open 
 
Justine Henin +125
Despite falling at the Australian pen to a red-hot Sharapova, Henin, the winner of three straight – and four of the last five – French Opens, Henin is the unequivocal odds-on-favorite to win this contest.
 
Serena Williams +650
Williams looked great at the Aussie Open until running into World No. 4 Jelena Jankovic that is. Still, Williams, who won the French Open in 2002, is capable of winning this tournament, though she hasn’t played in two of the last three years.
 
Maria Sharapova +600
The 2008 Australian Open winner is certainly a legitimate contender, having reached the semifinal round last year, along with two other quarterfinals appearances in 2004 and 2005.

 
Venus Williams +750
Williams has never won this event and has never even reached the semifinal round. Maybe it’s me, but I say save your money here tennis bettors and count her out again.

 
Amelie Mauresmo +900
I could have copy and pasted the previous paragraph about Williams since Mauresmo has never the semifinal round in 13 consecutive tries.
Ana Ivanovic +800
Let’s see, Ivanovic reached this year’s Aussie Open final before falling to Sharapova and also reached last year’s French Open finals before losing to Henin. At +800, Ivanovic is an excellent wager here and a legitimate candidate to win this tournament – and the first grand slam title of her young career.
 
Jelena Jankovic +1100
Jankovic appears to be closing in on a grand slam title and it could be the French Open after reaching last year’s semifinals. At +1100, Jankovic is an excellent bet for a player who almost reached last year’s final.
 
Nicole Vaidisova +1200
With one semifinal and one quarterfinal appearance in three tries at Roland Garros, the 19-year-old Vaidisova is clearly a player that could reach the semis once again – or even beyond. It may be another season or two before Vaidisova puts it all together, but the youngster clearly has plenty of power and talent.
 
Svetlana Kuznetsova +1600
Kuznetsova is still looking for her second career grand slam after winning the U.S. Open in 2004, but is definitely an accomplished clay court players having reach the 2006 French Open final and quarterfinal round in 2007. At +1600, who knows, it could happen for Kuznetsova.
 
Anna Chakvetadze +2200
Chakvetadze, who will turn 21 just prior to the start of the French Open, reached the quarterfinal round last season and could take another step toward a grand slam title at this year’s tournament.
 
Nadia Petrova +2200
With two semifinal appearances at the French Open on her resume, Petrova is clearly a player that can reach the finals. Something tells me she’s going to be a tough out at this year’s tournament and an outstanding player to wager on during its two-week trek to the finals.
 
Lindsay Davenport +2500
I love Lindsay Davenport and everything she represents about professional sports, but you can count her out of winning this tournament before it even gets started, reaching the semifinal round just once in 11 opportunities.
 
Victoria Azarenka +3000
Get real people, Azarenka was knocked out in the first round in her only two appearances at Roland Garros.
 
Agniezka Radwanska +3500
Radwanska, soon to be 19-years-old, was knocked out in the first round of her first French Open appearance last season, but looked like one of the best up-and-coming players on tour in reaching the quarterfinal round of this year’s Aussie Open.
 
Agnes Szavay +3500
The 19-year-old Szavay was also knocked out of last year’s French Open in the first round, though she could reach the second round in her second try this year.
 
Dinara Safina +5000
Safina has one quarterfinal appearance on her resume in four career tries and is not a legitimate contender to actually win this tournament.
 
Marion Bartoli +5000
Bartoli has not passed the fourth round in seven tries at Roland Garros. Count out the strange-serving Bartoli who surprised and reached the 2007 Wimbledon final.
 
Shahar Peer +5000
I really like the mature Peer and have been waiting for a breakthrough from her for the past 18 months. After bowing out in the fourth round in two consecutive French Opens, Peer is not a threat to unseat any of the top players here.
 
Elena Dementieva +5000
Dementieva reached the 2004 French Open final but hasn’t been past the fourth round in the past three seasons. Further more, she really, really needs to develop a backbone.
 
Tatiana Golovin +6000
Golovin has not played in the past two French Opens, and did not surpass the fourth round in four previous tries. Count her out here once again.
 
Michaela Krajicek +6000
Krajicek has not passed the third round in three tries at Roland Garros and will likely get knocked out before the third round once again this year.
 
Sybille Bammer +8000
One first round finish in 2006 and one fourth round finish last year suggest that Bammer could actually reach the quarterfinal round this year.
 
Daniela Hantuchova +8000
Hantuchova reached the semis at this year’s Australian Open, before falling completely apart against Ana Ivanovic and her ‘squeaking’ tactics. Hantuchova has not surpassed the fourth round in seven consecutive tries at Roland Garros and should bow out right around that time again this year.
 
Mary Pierce +9000
Pierce, the winner of the 2000 French Open and finalist in 2005, is retired but will apparently make an appearance at home ‘home’ tournament this year, though she may not last through the first round.
 
Flavia Pennetta +9000
Pennetta has three third round finishes and two first round defeats in five opportunities at Roland Garros. It’s not gonna’ happen for Pennetta this year either bettors.

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