French Open Outsiders: Six Each-Way Chances From The Men's And Women's Singles
The climax of the clay-court season gets under way this weekend, but who are the challengers that can threaten defending French Open champions Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek?
In the men’s singles, betting sites make Alcaraz the 6/4 favourite for a successful title defence in a two-horse race with world number one Jannik Sinner, who is 2/1 following his return to the circuit after a three-month ban for doping.
Swiatek, who could face Britain's Emma Raducanu in the second round, is bidding for a fourth successive triumph at Roland Garros, but her form has been patchy lately and she is the second favourite at 3/1 behind the world’s top-ranked player Aryna Sabalenka (5/2).
Sabalenka lost to Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals in 2023, and 12 months ago was beaten by the precocious Mirra Andreeva in the last eight, but could this finally be her year?
We examine six French Open outsiders who could cause a stir over the course of the fortnight and the latest odds.
Men’s French Open Outsiders: Lorenzo Musetti
Despite being ranked eighth in the world, Musetti has only won two titles, both of which came in 2022, but the way he has been playing on clay this season suggests the Italian is not too far away from adding a third.
Musetti reached his first Masters 1000 final last month, but struggled physically in the deciding set against Alcaraz in Monte Carlo after four of his five previous matches went the distance.
In Madrid, he reached the semi-finals without dropping a set, but went down 6-3 7-6 to British number one Jack Draper.
Earlier this month in Rome, he sailed through all four matches in straight sets, including a draining quarter-final with world number two Alexander Zverev during which he won 15 of his 20 attempted drop shots.
However, he came unstuck against Alcaraz once more in the last four, making it five successive defeats to the two-time Wimbledon champion.
Having lost on both occasions to Sinner, Musetti’s best hope looks to be a run to the semi-finals, something he has never achieved at the French Open, although he has twice made it to the fourth round.
Musetti is 25/1 with a number of tennis betting sites to land a maiden major.
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Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
Men’s French Open Outsiders: Jack Draper
Draper defeated Alcaraz en route to winning his first ATP Tour title on the hard courts of Indian Wells in March, but the Brit is showing signs of enjoying playing on clay.
The 23-year-old Londoner reached his second Masters 1000 final of the season in Madrid, only to come up short in a three-set battle with Casper Ruud.ad to he
Draper then made it to the quarter-finals in Rome where he failed to convert any of his four break-point opportunities against Alcaraz and succumbed to a 6-4 6-4 defeat.
The world number five has fallen at the first hurdle in both of his previous two appearances at Roland Garros, but unless he is unlucky with the draw he should make it third time lucky and potentially enjoy a deep run.
Men’s French Open Outsiders: Casper Ruud
Ruud is a two-time runner-up at the French Open and last year made it to the last four when quarter-final opponent Novak Djokovic withdrew owing to a knee injury.
Djokovic had beaten Ruud in the 2023 final, 12 months after he had been blown away by Rafael Nadal, who retired at the end of the 2024 season.
Ruud no longer has to worry about Nadal, but he has won just one of his nine combined matches against Alcaraz and Sinner, who dropped just one game against the Norwegian in their recent quarter-final in Rome.
That said, Ruud beat three top-10 players during his Masters 1000 title success in Madrid, so the world number seven is in form and will have his sights set on at least the quarters or beyond depending on a favourable draw.
Ruud can be backed at 28/1 with Ladbrokes to win the French Open.
Women’s French Open Outsiders: Coco Gauff
Gauff can hardly be described as an outsider having reached at least the quarter-finals in her last four appearances in Paris, but she catches the eye at 7/1 with betting apps to win the French Open for the first time.
Swiatek defeated the American in three of the last four years and holds a 5-1 lead on clay, but the Pole has looked vulnerable this year and in Madrid lost 6-1 6-1 to Gauff, who will sense an opportunity should their paths cross.
Gauff’s head-to-head with Sabalenka is equal at five wins apiece, with one win each on clay, although significantly, the Belarusian won their latest contest in the Madrid final in straight sets earlier this month.
The 2023 US Open champion then made it to the final in Rome only to come up short once more, this time against Jasmine Paolini.
She beat Mirra Andreeva in straight sets in both tournaments, so will feel she has her number should they meet, and pipped Zheng Qinwen in the Italian capital.
With Swiatek out of sorts, Gauff will feel this could be her year.
Women’s French Open Outsiders: Zheng Qinwen
Zheng enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2024 when she reached the Australian Open final and the last eight at Flushing Meadows.
A run to the championship match at the WTA Finals in Riyadh suggested big things were on the horizon for the Chinese star.
Zheng has put a poor start to the year behind her with an impressive run in Rome where she beat Sabalenka in the quarter-finals and then lost an epic three-and-a-half-hour battle with Gauff in the last four.
The Olympic champion had the chance to reach the final, but failed to serve out the match at 5-3 up in the deciding set.
However, her performances in the Italian capital were impressive and she proved she has the stamina to match the best in the business.
Zheng seems to be peaking at just the right time and looks a decent each-way shout at 20/1.
Women’s French Open Outsiders: Jelena Ostapenko
Ostapenko won her one and only major title at Roland Garros eight years ago and although she has never advanced beyond the third round since, her recent triumph in Stuttgart suggests she could be a contender this year.
The 27-year-old Latvian claimed her ninth career title by defeating Swiatek in the last eight and then Sabalenka in straight sets in the final, losing just five games.
Ostapenko had also beaten world number 11 Emma Navarro in the round of 16, so she has certainly set alarm bells ringing ahead of the year’s second grand slam.
In Madrid, she suffered a shock first-round defeat to Latvian compatriot Anastisija Sevastova, who is back on the circuit at the age of 35 after retiring for a second time in 2023.
However, the bigger picture is that she beat the world’s best two players at the same tournament and she looks decent each-way value at 33/1.
