French Open news: Stars are aligning for Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka to light up Roland Garros

The French Open, quite simply one of the most iconic and visually stunning tournaments on the international sporting calendar, kicks off on Sunday and the bookies feel the men’s event is a two-horse race.

Here, Sports News Blitz’s Bookie Basher trades football tips for tennis this fine weekend.

The best of the best

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the two best players in the world and naturally head the betting here, even though Sinner’s prep has been far from ideal. 

The Italian was competing for the first time since an uber-controversial three-month drugs ban at the recent Rome Masters, and to be honest, performed like he had never been away as he made the final. 

Alcaraz was too good for him in said final, winning 7-6 (5), 6-1and in doing so also halting Sinner’s winning streak at 26 matches.

Defending champion Alcaraz has enjoyed a stellar prep on red dirt, winning the Monte Carlo Masters and the Rome Masters.

He’s an 11/10 poke to defend the title he won last year, with Sinner a top price 12/5. 

Being an Alcaraz fan is not always easy. He does not have that Rolls Royce consistency of say a Pete Sampras or a peak Rafael Nadal on clay.

However, when he is on sometimes you see tennis that is from another planet.

Tennis that genuinely makes you pinch yourself and makes you rethink what you actually know about the sport. 

He’s in brilliant form and draw has been really kind, too. The other half of the draw is a joke with the likes of Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Jack Draper all lurking.

Draper has shown he can play well on clay and might have a few backers at current 40/1 quotes.

Novak Djokovic fans are not without hope either. The 38-year-old had endured a disappointing clay season before last week, suffering immediate exits in Madrid and Monte Carlo.

However, he showed at the Geneva Open there is life in the old dog yet, and tennis romantics might fancy taking a slice of him at 12/1 to win again in Paris. 

If you are asking me who could go well at a big price, my answer would be Lorenzo Mussetti, who looks worth an each-way nibble at 25/1.

However, for me it’s all about the two top seeds, and there’s a nagging feeling the tournament has come at least four weeks too soon for Sinner.

And while he looked to be taking over men's tennis before the drug ban controversy, it's worth noting here that Alcaraz has won his last four matches against the Italian.

So - while not exactly original - the pick is Alcaraz. The Spaniard is pure box office on red dirt and ticks all the boxes in terms of draw and recent form.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: NBA news: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander crowned MVP after historic season

All eyes on Swiatek

In the women’s event, it should be fascinating to see how Iga Swiatek goes.

The Pole will be hoping to win the women's title at Roland Garros for the fourth year in a row. She has been imperious here, but it has been a rough few months. 

Indeed seeing Swiatek’s name in a clay tournament draw followed by a No. 5 rather than the customary No. 1 will take some getting used to, but that’s where the brilliant Iga is right now after a rollercoaster 12 months since she won her last title in Paris.

She lost unexpectedly at the Italian Open early doors and has also been handed a nightmarish draw too with Emma Raducanu potentially awaiting her in round two.

Other big-name players to feature in her section of the draw include Elena Rybakina, Belinda Bencic and Jelena Ostapenko.

Ostapenko has never lost against Swiatek, extending her flawless head-to-head record against the five-time major champion to a frankly mental 6-0 scoreline in Stuttgart a few weeks back.

Put simply, I couldn’t back Swiatek with stolen money here, but I really like the look of Aryna Sabalenka at 11/4. 

She is gunning for her first title at Roland Garros after wins in Melbourne and New York last year and might have won last year but for a dodgy meal.

World number one Sabalenka was doubled over with stomach trouble in 2024 as she fell to defeat to teenager Mirra Andreeva in the last eight.

Ominously she proclaimed she feels ‘better’ than ever’ on clay courts in the run-up to this, and her powerful groundstrokes and booming serve will be key components to victory over the next two weeks. 

The Alcaraz / Sabalenka double pays better than 13/2 with some firms, and that could look absolutely huge a fortnight from now.

Suggested Bet: Alcaraz - Men’s French Open and Sabalenka - Women’s French Open win double at 6.88/1 (Coral)

MORE BY THE BOOKIE BASHER: Premier League betting tips: Sunderland fancied, Eze to rattle Reds, more Man Utd misery