Nadal, the man to beat in French Open
Sunday, May 9th, 2010
Yep, the French Open in all its clay court glory is here again.
Dubbed as the most challenging of all the grand slams, the 2010 French Open tennis tournament is sure to stay true to the rigors and tough competitiveness so typical of the second of the annual tennis majors.
This year’s French Open will be held from May 24th to June 7th and this year’s tournament is sure to unleash some of the most riveting grand slam tennis action you’d ever see. Thousands are expected to arrive at Roland Garros during the two weeks of the competition in hopes of catching a glimpse of the best tennis players in the world.
Leading the pack for the men’s favorites is the ‘king of clay,’ Rafael Nadal who seem to come up with his best tennis every time he plays on that clay surface.
He etched his name into French Open history after matching the record of the well-known Bjorn Borg and the 1920’s heroine of the Open, Suzanne Lenglen, with four consecutive French Open titles.
Nadal’s success on clay is so ridiculous, you’d be a fool to bet against this guy in this tournament.
That brings us to Roger Federer. Can he win a title in France and get title number 17? Federer has found the clay courts in Paris to be his nemesis.
He is one of those great players who can’t seem to do shit on clay. He is in good company though as he is accompanied by the likes of Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis as a few great tennis players who are denied of a title on clay.
Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, is probably the only real threat to Nadal as he is considered by many as a great clay court player. Other guys to watch out for include Nikolay Davydenko, who is one of the hottest players in tennis right now.
Andy Roddick and Juan Martin Del Potro should also be…
Women to bet on in the French Open
Saturday, May 8th, 2010
Yep, the French Open is here and if you’re a betting man, you should take note about these women you shouldn’t be betting against on May.
In case you didn’t get that, it’s that time of the Grand Slam tennis season when the best tennis players in the world head to Roland Garros for the 2010 French Open tennis tournament.
And as far as the women’s side of things go, Justine Henin is the clear cut favorite to win this tournament. Henin’s presence in the draw is clearly pushing the odds long for even the second favorite and there is good reason for that.
Henin made the finals of the recent Australian Open and, despite her long layoff, she is a force on tour even at the Grand Slam level. Her best Grand Slam has always been the French Open as she won four titles at Roland Garros (2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007) before she ‘retired’ from tennis just prior to the 2008 French Open.
Her past success at the French Open, combined with her stellar play on tour since returning from retirement has clearly won her a lot of backers to win again at Roland Garros this spring.
Trying to outwit Henin is Kim Clijsters. Even though Clijsters’ best results at the French Open were back in 2001 and 2003 when she was the runner up in both tournaments in Paris, Clijsters has remained to be a force to be reckoned with at Roland Garros.
Clijsters has played in two French Open tournaments, the 2005 event and the 2006 event, reaching the semifinals back in ‘06.
Of course, Serena Williams has to be included as one of the favorites to win the French Open. Sure, Williams has not won the French Open since 2002, about the time when she started winning everything, but at least she has won it before. Her most recent result from 2009 was a quarterfinal loss but even that was to the eventual champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Speaking of, French Open defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has…
Tennis back on Clay for French Open
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
The clay courts of Paris beckons near.
Billed as the most challenging of all the grand slams, the 2009 French Open tennis tournament is coming and it’s sure to bring in the best of the world’s top tennis superstars.
Hosted by one of the most romantic cities in the world, Paris, the 2009 French Open will run from May 24th to June 7th at Roland Garros, sure to unleash some of the most riveting grand slam tennis action.
The clay courts of Roland Garros have broken the hearts of many players wishing to complete a grand slam sweep, with a slow demanding surface testing not only the physical but also the mental resolve of the competitors.
Rafael Nadal won his fourth straight title in 2008 with his victim, Roger Federer, easily defeated in straight sets.
Nadal, ranked world no.1, produced an absolutely sublime display of tennis brilliance in 2008. Picking up 6 ATP Titles, making the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the US Open, and winning Wimbledon and the French Open. Nadal smashed numerous records in the process and overtook Roger Federer as the world’s premiere male tennis player.
Ana Ivanovic will be defending the women’s title following her two set victory over Dinara Safina. The world will be watching if she can defend her title in 2009.
Over the years, the French Open has epitomized the steel and resolve of the very best in tennis, and the Roland Garros Stadium is a more than apt venue. It is named after the World War I fighter pilot who gave his life for ‘King and Country’ and his bravery is remembered and celebrated on the dusty, challenging red clay courts every year.
It is also the very stadium where Roger Federer…
Bet on the 2008 French Open now!
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
Betting on the latest tennis tournament on clay was almost put to sleep.
The 2008 French Open at Roland Garros is merely days away before it kicks off. However, organizers of the clay court tournament want to stop any betting activity whatsoever on the coming Grand Slam event.
Luckily for sports betting fans, major online gambling companies fended off a legal challenge from French Open organizers to stop betting activities on the coming Grand Slam tournament. A liege court ruled that those online gambling companies are not violating any rights of the French tennis federation by offering bets for French Open matches.
The French tennis federation claimed that online betting has already stained the reputation of the French Open, especially after all those scandals Internet gambling found itself into. Because of this, the federation decided to sue three companies namely; Betfair, bwin and Ladbrokes.
Unfortunately for the federation, the court ruled in favor of the three.
In a statement, the European Gaming & Betting Association said the court had concluded ”these operators had behaved in a prudent and diligent manner.”
”EU-licensed bookmakers are professionals that have a high level of expertise, know-how and risk management skills. This has been clearly recognized by the Belgian judge looking at the fact-based evidence to dismiss all the claims in this case,” EGBA Secretary General Sigrid Ligne said.
”The judge also considered that the simple mention of…
Henin, Nadal target French Open three-peat
Sunday, May 27th, 2007
There could be a three-peat winner on both the men’s and women’s side as Rafael Nadal and Justine Henin both begin their search for a third straight French Open title at Roland Garros this weekend.
Nadal has shown his mastery on clay by winning the last two French Open crowns. In 2005 Nadal defeated Mariano Puerta [...]
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