The Womens’ Singles at this year’s French Open may be remembered for those who were missing rather than those who turn up.
Simona Halep is the latest big name to declare herself doubtful in Paris, the 2014 finalist having suffered an ankle injury in last week’s Italian Open final. The Romanian had won the Madrid Open earlier and would have been one of the favourites at Roland Garros but she’s been diagnosed with torn ligaments and doctors rate the world number four only 50/50 to be fit.
The French Open draw is already missing mum-to-be Serena Williams, of course, while Maria Sharapova has been denied a wild-card entry having already missed qualifying. The Russian, who has only recently returned from a doping suspension, may now focus her efforts of qualifying from Wimbledon but the 30-year-old five-times former Grand Slam champion is going to find life tough until she improves her current ranking.
Petra Kvitova is another who is likely to target a Grand Slam return at Wimbledon as she recovers from being stabbed in a burglary at her home in December. The Czech is almost fit again but the French Open may come a couple of weeks too soon. Victoria Azarenka only gave birth in December and she won’t see competition again until the Aegeon Open at Nottingham next month which means this year’s Womens’ Singles at the French Open is the most open-looking in years – a fact reflected in the betting.
Despite those injury concerns, Simona Halep is still the 9/2 favourite with Betfair but the world’s biggest betting exchange is also best odds on several others who will be arriving in Paris with no health worries. Sadly, defending champion Garbine Muguruza isn’t one of them! The Spaniard has twice withdrawn from tournaments this year after suffering a trapped nerve in her neck and Slams aren’t generally won by those who can’t stay the course. Caroline Wozniacki pulled out of a tournament in Strasbourg earlier this week with a back problem and she may be running out of time to win a Grand Slam.
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Britain’s Johanna Konta has struggled on clay this year and has only ever won two matches at Roland Garros but, with the rest of the world’s top 10 falling like nine-pins, she must fancy her chances of doing better this year, though can be backed at 33/1 to win the final with several bookmakers.
If there is going to a be surprise, Spain Carla Suarez Navarro could be a likely candidate. She’s twice reached the quarter-finals in Paris when the competition was tougher and has also played in the semi-finals of the doubles. Clay is her favourite surface and she has a good variety of shots so could go far if getting the luck of the draw and is 50/1 with Boylesports.
French Open Womens’ Singles Current Betfair Odds
Simona Halep (9/2), Elina Svitolina (8/1), Garbine Muguruza (11/1), Kristina Mladenovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova (16/1), Angelique Kerber (18/1), Karolina Pliskova (20/1), Daria Kasatkina, Johanna Konta, Caroline Wozniacki and Laura Siegemund (33/1), Carla Suarez Navarro and Timea Bacsinszky (40/1), Kiki Bertens, Eugene Bouchard, Dominika Cibulkova, Madison Keys, Agnieszka Radwanska and Petra Kvitova (50/1)
