The first Grand Slam of the summer gets underway this weekend!
The WTA descends on Roland-Garros for the 2023 French Open. The clay court tournament is set to be dominated by odds on favorite Iga Swiatek, who won this event in 2020 and 2022, two of her three Grand Slam titles. However, Swiatek had a recent injury, will that alter the trajectory of this tournament?
There are plenty of contenders in France this fortnight with 2023 Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka entering as a Grand Slam Champion and Elena Rybakina fresh off a win against Swiatek in Rome earlier this month.
Below, we get you set for the 2023 French Open with the draw, betting dark horse and prediction for who wins it all!
2023 French Open odds
2023 French Open draw
2023 French Open dark horse bets
Marketa Vondrousova (+3100)
Vondrousova has had plenty of success on clay in her career and enters in great form after back-to-back Round of 16 appearances on the surface. She made the Finals here at Roland-Garros in 2019 before losing to Ashleigh Barty, and sports a 13-5 career record here. Last year, she lost in three sets in the Round of 16.
The 23-year-old also enjoys a bit of a bracket advantage being on the opposite side of the odds on favorite Swiatek and rising contender Rybakina. She is on track to face Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, but her path isn't as easy, especially against Marta Kostyuk in the first round, one of the most in form players on the WTA Tour.
Don't be surprised if Vondrousova is into the Finals in hopes of hoisting her first Grand Slam title.
2023 French Open prediction and best bets
The biggest news heading into the French Open is the health of Swiatek, who has been nursing a thigh injury. While she is claiming the injury is not serious, the defending champion having to retire within two weeks of the event is not a promising sign.
This is set to be a grueling test for Swiatek, and I believe that she is being overvalued as the odds on favorite and the path is open for Rybakina, Sabalenka, or a challenger further down the odds board to breakthrough on clay.
Sabalenka has one of the most powerful ground strokes in recent memory, but she lacks the form on clay to make noise this time around. Her best finish here is the Round of 32, and I believe someone like the aforementioned Vondrousova can push to the Finals once again.
Meanwhile, on Swiatek's side of the bracket, I believe that Rybakina can benefit from her runner up finish in Australia, a loss to Sabalenka in three sets. However, it's clay that she has thrived over the balance of her career, making a quarterfinals in Roland-Garros in 2021 and has won at least one match in each of her four appearances.
PICK: Elena Rybakina +700, 0.5U on Marketa Vondrousova +3100
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.