Clay tennis betting fans are now officially in heaven as the 2010 French Open betting action is now officially underway. The blood red clay of the French courts the Parisian summer with its myriad rain storms and scorching sun and the passion of the fans all combine to make this one of the most unique and special events in sports betting.
The French Open is the biggest clay tennis event in the world and one four major Grand Slams in tennis betting. It is a place where reputations can be made or lost and is arguably the most difficult of the Grand Slams to win. Many tennis betting greats have won the two hard court Grand Slam titles (the Aussie Open and the US Open) as well as the grass title (Wimbledon), but it’s this fourth, French Open title, that has kept many of the great tennis betting stars from completing the career tennis wagering Grand Slam.
Australian star Rod Laver is the only man in modern tennis betting history to have won the Grand Slam in the same year and only seven players have ever won the career Grand Slam title (the Aussie Open, Wimbledon, French Open and US Open betting titles). The most recent player to win the French Open odds was world #1 Roger Federer –a victory that also sealed the career Grand Slam for him.
The difficulty in winning the French Open odds is that clay is the craziest surface in tennis betting. It’s slow, so you have to play your opponent to the death in marathon matches. Big serves are mitigated on this surface and for the “dirt rat” clay specialists who can cover the court, nearly every shot in the French Open action is in play.
The balls also take weird hops on the clay surface and so luck also plays a bigger role than usual in the French Open odds action. Generally French Open winners are clay specialists that tend to struggle at other tournaments but once a year come out and shine at Roland Garros. So in the next few weeks we’re sure to see some unconventional, but nonetheless, fantastic tennis betting action at the French Open.