OTW Extra Email Archive - May 2024
Notes from the tour - week 21...
Wednesday 22nd May 2024
It's a Grand Slam week, and that means there's a crackle of excitement in the air here at Ones to Watch HQ. The French Open starts on Sunday…
I’m busy preparing for the clay-court Major at Roland Garros. In recent years, the annual trip to Paris has been a good one for big-odds backers, to say the least…
And if you’re a long-time Ones to Watch follower, then you’ll know that big prices are something we specialise in…
To whet the appetite ahead of the upcoming French Open fortnight, just look at these odds. The recent finalists from the Women’s event:
Last 7 years - Women's French Open finalists:
2023
WINNER: Iga Swiatek 5/6
Runner-Up: Karolina Muchova 100/1
2022
WINNER: Iga Swiatek 4/5
Runner-Up: Coco Gauff 28/1
2021
WINNER: Barbora Krejcikova 175/1
Runner-Up: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 150/1
2020
WINNER: Iga Swiatek 100/1
Runner-Up: Sofia Kenin 50/1
2019
WINNER: Ashleigh Barty 22/1
Runner-Up: Marketa Vondrousova 40/1
2018
WINNER: Simona Halep 6/1
Runner-Up: Sloane Stephens 50/1
2017
WINNER: Jelena Ostapenko 100/1
Runner-Up: Simona Halep 4/1
Five of those big-odds French Open finalists featured in our Ones to Watch betting – Swiatek, Kenin, Vondrousova, Stephens, and Ostapenko.
While last year’s 100/1 Roland Garros women’s runner-up, Muchova, had been in the book for us before the French Open, as an early-bird for Wimbledon 2023 (!). We’re frequently in the right ballpark with our big-odds selections…
With Swiatek sitting at no.1 in the world these days, she’s odds-on at just 8/11 (1.73) at best to win Roland Garros for what would be a fourth time…
Compare that 8/11 price to the 100/1 we got for Swiatek when she first won it in 2020. Which just goes to show – the early bird gets the worm…
Needless to say, I’ll be looking for more of the same at the upcoming French Open 2024…
The men’s event will have a very different look to it this year…
Record 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal is set to make what is very likely to be his last appearance at Roland Garros. You have to go back almost 20 years for the last time Rafa was as big as 16/1 for the French Open. The 37-year-old living legend is currently ranked at no.276…
Unless he wins the ATP 250 event in Geneva this week, world no.1 Novak Djokovic will go to Paris without a title to his name so far this season. Form and fitness questions swirl around the 37-year-old Grand Slam boss, too…
While top new young gun and recent Australian Open champ, 22-year-old Jannik Sinner is also an injury doubt as it stands. As is fellow young superstar Carlos Alcaraz, a two-time Major champion already at the age of just 21. Sinner and Alcaraz sit at no.2 and no.3 in the rankings, respectively.
In other words: it’s wide open…
And when it comes to the tournament Outright Winner market, which is what we specialise in at Ones to Watch. Wide open means big-odds, Each Way betting opportunities…
Stay tuned and keep an eye on your emails:
If you’re already a Ones to Watch member, then you’ll receive your French Open Email #1 containing my tournament preview and first bet selections, this Friday afternoon…
Not a member yet? Join now and you’ll get that Friday email and all my French Open advice, too…
Play starts on Sunday morning…
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone