Carlos Alcaraz gets bookies’ backing for French Open glory
Analysis of the odds offered by prominent sportsbooks shows that Carlos Alcaraz is now the bookies’ favourite to win the French Open.
Alcaraz slipped off the top spot of the ATP Rankings this week but his efforts across the Sunshine Double have seen his stock rise.
To be clear the sportsbooks’ position of the French Open title is far from settled and many are currently offering the same odds of Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic taking the Roland Garros crown.
In a cross-section of the sites covered by oddschecker.com, Alcaraz is narrowly ahead of Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Nadal remains many pundits’ favourite, as they factor in his incredible feats in Paris.
Meanwhile, the bookies aren’t quite ready to put all their eggs in the Nadal basket even if he remains in a strong position.
The chief concern will be the match fitness of the 14-time champion.
“It is crazy to even say that he is playing for potential 15th Roland-Garros title. It’s mental. The numbers that he’s had at Paris, it’s like hard to wrap your head around, but I just think he needs matches,” Robson told Eurosport.
“He’s entered pretty much every week leading up to Roland-Garros, and it’s just whether he’s healthy.
“It’s just finding that balance of when to come back at the right time, where you feel like you’re totally ready to play seven matches over the course of two weeks in Paris.”
While Nadal remains on the entry list for Monte Carlo, he rubbishes reports that he would return at the event.
The Spaniard is understood to be set to make a late call on taking part in the principality.
“I don’t know who gets this information, but obviously if it were true, I would confirm it, but, unfortunately, I cannot confirm it,” Nadal said of the reports that he was confirmed for entry into the first clay court Masters event of 2023.
“Things are moving day by day, and I don’t say things that I can’t fulfil. I prefer to say things when I really know them, and at this moment, I don’t know them.
“I continue my course. I do not know yet when I will return. I am in a phase of increasing work, and if I know, I would say so, but since I do not know, I cannot tell you.”
The return to action of Novak Djokovic will draw more eyes to the Monte Carlo Masters.
Other names that have seen their position with the sportsbooks improve are Miami Open finalist Jannik Sinner and comeback kid Alexander Zverev.
READ MORE: Carlos Alcaraz described as ‘the chosen one’ and backed to lead tennis along with Jannik Sinner
