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21st May 2015 | French Open

Men's French Open Winner Tip: Rafa Nadal

The bookies have lost perspective basing their odds on short term form. The undisputed 'King of Clay' still has a jaw-dropping Roland Garros record of 66 wins, 1 defeat.

Having heard that Novak Djokovic would enter the French Open as the odds-on favourite, never in my wildest dreams did I assume Rafa Nadal would be available at a best price of 10/3 with StanJames.

It’s one thing to say that the ‘King of Clay’ isn’t looking his best, quite another to suggest Djokovic is therefore more than three times more likely to triumph at Roland Garros.

This will always be the most idiosyncratic Grand Slam in the tennis calendar and you therefore can’t simply ignore that one man has 9 French Open titles while the new favourite has zero.

Admittedly Nadal hasn’t won a clay court tournament en route to Paris this year, but he only won once in preparation (in Madrid) last year. That didn’t stop him taking a fifth consecutive crown. This time he lost to Murray in the Madrid final; the contrast in form has been overstated.

Those in the know suggest that the Spaniard should still be seen as the player to beat. Roger Federer refuses to look past a Roland Garros win-loss record of 66-1 and who can blame him!

Even the man himself is sanguine ahead of his latest defence. “I really do have the feeling that I’m playing well. If I don’t get too nervous I’ll have a good chance,” says Nadal.

If mental fortitude is the biggest issue then we shouldn’t hesitate to back the 28-year-old claiming an historic 10th French Open title.

Odds correct at time of publishing: 12:42 21st May, 2015 but subject to change

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