2012 French Open Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – French Open Favorites and Sleepers

2012 French Open Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – French Open Favorites and Sleepers: The second major of the season has arrived, as the top players in the world head to Roland Garros for the 2012 French Open. The tournament’s signature clay surface makes the French Open the trickiest of the four Grand Slam events. The clay changes the way the balls bounce, the speed of the game, and the way players must approach each match. Attacking and being aggressive are a must because of the clay’s ability to bring any shot to an immediate halt. Some of the best players of all-time have struggled with the unique surface, and some never master the clay.

Last season, Rafael Nadal had no issues handling the clay as he won the French Open for the second year in a row and the sixth time in his career. He had only one tough match throughout the entire tournament, and he easily dispatched Roger Federer in the finals. Nadal’s sixth French Open title tied him for the most in the Open Era and second most all-time, earning him the nickname the King of Clay.

The Favorites – 2012 ATP French Open Odds, Free Picks and Predictions

Defending French Open winner Rafael Nadal has absolutely dominated on the clay surface of Roland Garros. He has won the tournament six of the last seven years, and he is going for a three-peat this season. Nadal can pass Bjorn Borg for the most French Open titles in the Open Era by winning this year’s event, and considering how well he plays on clay, it’s tough to bet against him getting the record. Plain and simple, Nadal is the king of clay.

Clay isn’t his best surface by any means, but Novak Djokovic is the No. 1 player in the world for a reason. He hasn’t lost a major tournament since his loss in the semifinals of the French Open last year, and if wins at Roland Garros, he will complete a “Djokovic Slam” by winning all four Grand Slam events in a row but not in the same calendar year. Expect the top player in the sport to be very motivated to capture the one major missing from his resume.

No, he isn’t the dominant force he was a few year ago, but Roger Federer isn’t washed up either. In fact, he has been the most consistent player around since the Australian Open a few months ago and has a chance to regain the No. 1 ranking if he keeps up his current pace. Federer has looked strong in the clay tournaments leading up to the French Open, and he knows what a second win at Roland Garros would mean to his legacy. He already has more major titles than any player in history, and a second French Open win would give multiple wins in every Grand Slam event. After losing in the finals last season, Federer is probably the biggest threat to Rafael Nadal’s winning streak.

The Dark Horses – 2012 ATP French Open Odds, Free Picks and Predictions

There is definitely a gap between Andy Murray and the top three players in the world, but he is without question the fourth-best player. More importantly, he has made the semifinals of the last five Grand Slam events, including last year’s French Open. Murray may be a little banged up, but he always seems to be his sharpest on the biggest stages. Clay isn’t his favorite surface, but a guy that is a near lock to be one of the last four players standing has a puncher’s chance at the very least.

The Sleepers – 2012 ATP French Open Odds, Free Picks and Predictions

Although he didn’t look great at the clay tournaments at Rome and Madrid in recent weeks, John Isner is still a dangerous player at Roland Garros. He is an aggressive player that isn’t afraid to attack the net, and his powerful serve keeps opponents off balance. Isner’s style is built for clay court tennis, and he was the only player to take defending French Open champion Rafael Nadal to five sets in last year’s tournament. He has had issues with consistency throughout his career, but don’t be surprised if Isner finds a way to get focused with a major title on the line.

While he is certainly past his prime and less than 100 percent heading into the French Open, Juan Carlos Ferrero has the clay court game and experience to make a surprise run. He is a former No. 1 ranked player, and more importantly, he won at Roland Garros in 2003. Ferrero doesn’t have the speed to compete with the big boys on the harder surfaces, but his savvy play and understanding of the clay surface can help him even the playing field in this tournament. Ferrero is an underdog for sure, but the former French Open champ could be a tough out.

2012 ATP French Open Odds – Tennis Betting
Odds to win the ATP French Open
1001 Rafael Nadal -125
1002 Novak Djokovic +265
1003 Roger Federer +915
1004 Juan Martin Del Potro +2050
1005 Andy Murray +2550
1006 David Ferrer +4550
1007 Tomas Berdych +5250