Olympics tennis betting preview: In-form Gael Monfils looks a huge price at 100/1 to triumph in Tokyo

Tennis Betting
Gael Monfils celebrating

With the Indian Wells Masters called off due to the coronavirus outbreak, our betting guru Derek Bilton turns his attention to the tennis betting for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Our 11/4 tip Sofia Kenin did the business for us after winning Lyon over the weekend. It was a really tenacious effort from Kenin, who came back from a set and 3-5 down (saving one match point in the process) against qualifier Jaqueline Cristian in the first round.

The final was a thriller too, as Kenin battled to a three-set win over unseeded Anna-Lena Friedsam in a match that lasted one hour and 49 minutes. That was Kenin’s second title of the season and as a result the Australian Open champion has had her odds slashed for Wimbledon.

Sofia Kenin with Lyon Open trophy

Paddy Power have priced up the Olympics, and rather unsurprisingly Novak Djokovic is the overwhelming 5/4 favourite. He has started the season with an 18-match win streak, and in truth has looked pretty flawless so far. Tennis begins in Tokyo on July 25 and while we expect Nole to have lost at least a game of tennis by then, the Serb looks the most likely candidate to strike gold.

Roger Federer will also be chasing an elusive gold medal in the men’s singles. The Swiss great, who turns 39 during the Games, is one of the sport’s most decorated players but he has never won the Olympic singles title. Andy Murray famously proved too good for him in 2012 but if you fancy him to roll back the years he can be backed at 4/1. Spanish rival Rafael Nadal is the 7/2 second favourite.

Andy Murray 2012 London Olympics

One player who currently looks overpriced is Gael Monfils. The Frenchmen is in the form of his life after a blistering start to the season yet is 100/1 with Paddy Power to win Tokyo. He has enjoyed multiple deep runs this year already and if he can stay healthy he looks one player capable of springing a shock.

Serena is a 5/1 shout in the women’s event. The American is a four-time Olympic Gold medalist. In her decades of greatness, Williams has inspired a new generation of tennis talent and despite now being in the winter of her career you couldn’t rule out her winning another Olympic crown. Much of course will depend on how she does at Wimbledon. If she won there her odds would be slashed for Olympic glory.

Reigning US Open champion Bianca Andreescu continues to battle against a knee problem and has endured another recent setback. Yet despite this she remains a 7/1 second favourite to win gold in Tokyo.

Bianca Andreescu US Open trophy

In 2019 Naomi Osaka announced that she intends to represent Japan at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Osaka is a two-time Grand Slam champion and will enjoy huge support. A dual citizen of Japan and the United States, Osaka is in her prime at the age of 22 and looks a tempting price at 15/2. It’s probably worth backing her now as if she wins a couple of significant tournaments over the next few weeks expect those odds to plummet.

Bilko’s Banker: Naomi Osaka to win the Tokyo Olympics women’s singles at 15/2 (Paddy Power)
Best of the Rest: Gael Monfils to win the Tokyo Olympics men’s singles at 100/1 (Paddy Power)

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Derek Bilton

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Gael Monfils Naomi Osaka

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