The French Open is the only Grand Slam played on clay, a surface that rewards speed and athleticism over everything. The game’s fastest and best athletes stay in points longer, outlast opponents, and survive more matches on the Roland Garros clay.
Clay court legend Rafael Nadal has spent a career proving it. Nadal’s 14 French Open titles are a record for any major tournament. He’s still winning at age 36 and won the 2022 French Open title to become the oldest champion in the Open Era.
Here’s how to bet on Nadal or any other tennis player to win at Roland Garros this season with legal and licensed US online sportsbooks.
Best French Open betting sites
[cta id=4015 type=list]
How do French Open odds work
French Open odds are open year-round. It’s a futures market that morphs into an outrights market once the tennis begins.
Bets are booked at the currently posted odds, which start out long on most players the day after the tournament and tighten on the favorites based on health and recent performance heading into the next one.
That means when the French Open is still a while away, you can get decent odds even on Nadal and other favorites to win. However, these odds contract significantly on the best clay court players when it’s just days away, after the tournament begins, and as these favorites advance.
You should get decent odds on any player almost all the way through. But when Nadal or other clay court specialists make it to the quarterfinals or semifinals, you may have to lay some money to win some.
You can also bet on players getting to a certain round and one player’s performance versus another’s or a group, but the odds paid are better if you stick to picking winners. Plus, you can bet on individual matches throughout the tournament. French Open match markets include:
- The moneyline: Pick match winners at the currently posted odds, laying money on the favorite or trying to double your money, or more betting on the underdog.
- The spread: Pick match winners with a set or game spread factored in. This spread evens out the betting odds between the favorite and underdog
- The total: Bet on the total number of games played ending up over or under a specific line.
- Live betting: Bet on French Open matches during French Open matches at odds that change with what’s happening on the court right now. Bet on every point, game, and set as it happens.
Live tennis betting at French Open
Live French Open Betting is betting on French Open matches during the action. The odds change with what’s happening on the court and you can bet on everything from match lines and props to every point, game, and set.
The odds can change in an instant, making sportsbook apps virtually mandatory for live French Open betting. The apps are the only way to get a bet down quickly enough.
Related pages:
Bet on top players at French Open
Here’s a look at the latest French Open favorites in the men’s singles draw:
- Rafael Nadal: Nadal is the defending champion after winning his record 14th French Open title in 2022. Injuries impacted the second half of his 2022 season, but he remains ranked No. 2 in the world. If he’s completely healthy he’s almost unbeatable at Roland Garros.
- Carlos Alcaraz: Alcaraz is the No. 1 ranked player in the world coming off a win in the 2022 US Open. If he wins the 2023 Australian Open he will be the top seed in Paris. He’s also from Spain and seems to have the same youthful speed and athleticism Nadal used to dominate on clay for the past 20 years.
- Novak Djokovic: Djokovic lost to Nadal in the quarterfinals of the 2022 French Open. However, he did win his second title at Roland Garros in 2021 and when he’s on form, he’s almost unbeatable on any surface. That said, he missed so much of the 2022 season he ranked eighth in the world and will have a tougher road to glory than the top seeds.
Here’s a look at the latest French Open favorites in the women’s singles draw:
- Iga Świątek: World No. 1 Świątek won her second French Open title in 2022 and will be the favorite in Paris in 2023. Two of her three Grand Slam titles have come at Roland Garros and she looks great on clay.
- Ons Jabeur: World No. 2 Jabeur has never been out of the fourth round at Roland Garros. However, she made the final at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2022. She’ll no doubt be looking to prove she can also get it done on clay in Paris in 2023.
- Coco Gauff: Gauff made the 2022 French Open final and proved she has the youthful speed and athleticism to turn herself into a clay court specialist. Can 2023 be Coco’s year?
Bet on Doubles tennis at the French Open
You can also bet on men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles at Roland-Garros. Remember, the best singles players aren’t always the best at doubles. There are teams of specialists who only play doubles and shine at Grand Slams, like Roland-Garros.
French Open tennis – Key stats
- Venue: Roland Garros in Paris, France
- Dates: May 28 to June 11, 2023
- Surface: Clay court
- Prize Money: €43.6 million in total prize money, €2.2 million for the men’s and women’s singles champions (2022)
- 2022 Attendance: 613,586
- Men’s favorites: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal
- Women’s favorites: Iga Świątek, Ons Jabeur, Paula Badosa, Maria Sakkari, Coco Gauff
- 2022 results: Rafael Nadal (Men’s Singles Champion), Iga Świątek (Women’s Singles Champion)
- Official Twitter: @rolandgarros
French Open tennis betting tips
Here are three solid tips you can use for betting on tennis and the French Open:
- Early-round odds stink: Tennis tournament draws give the favorites a huge early-round advantage, and the odds are weighted accordingly. Avoid laying out huge sums on the favorites or placing bets with almost no chance of winning on the massive underdogs. The risk is hardly worth the reward, and underdogs like this win so rarely, betting on them is like throwing away money.
- Specialize in specialists: Some players have made careers playing the French Open. These are tennis’ fastest and best athletes. They stay in points longer, outlast opponents, and survive five-set marathon matches on the Roland Garros clay. More than any other surface, there are clay court specialists. Betting on them at Roland Garros is the best way to find success.
- Make healthy bets: Nadal has won every one of the past five French Open tournaments except 2021, where he lost in the semifinals primarily due to a foot injury. Injuries impact results, and those that factor health into their picks find more success more often.