By Carlos Alcaraz is still the favourite to win the French Open according to the current bookmakers odds – despite his injury-hampered clay court season.
The Spaniard has played just four matches on the dirt in 2024, reaching the last eight in his Madrid Open title defence before falling to Andrey Rublev.
But he will likely not be playing again in the build-up to Roland Garros, having withdrawn from the Italian with the same injury that forced him out of previous events in Monte Carlo and Madrid.
Despite his physical struggles the world No 3 and two-time major is favoured to win a third Slam title according to the odds, with action in Paris kicking off in just over three weeks.
The Spaniard is 21/10 on Oddschecker, with his position as the favourite despite his injuries an indicator of the doubts over several potentially key protagonists.
Second favourite currently is three-time Roland Garros winner and defending champion Novak Djokovic, with odds of 3/1 to win what would be a record-extending 25th Grand Slam win.
But the Serbian is yet to win a title in 2024 and has played just one clay event this season – though he will be in action at the Italian Open next week.
Jannik Sinner is third favourite with odds of 7/2, though his chances may be affected by the hip injury that has seen him pull out of his Madrid quarter-final and now next week’s Masters 1000 event in Rome.
Speaking today, he said: “It is not easy to write this message but after speaking again with the doctors and specialists about my hip problems I have to announce that unfortunately I will not be able to play in Rome.
“Obviously I’m very sad that I didn’t recover, it being one of my favourite tournaments ever. I couldn’t wait to come back and play at home in front of the Italian crowd.”
Read More: Jannik Sinner makes ‘very sad’ announcement that throws French Open campaign into doubt
With doubts over the top three players in the world, this could be one of the most open French Open draws in the men’s game in years.
And that might be why, despite his own physical issues, Rafael Nadal is still fourth favourite according to current odds.
The 14-time winner has not yet officially confirmed that he will play in Paris, but has odds of 13/2 to claim a 15th title in what could be his French Open farewell.
Behind Nadal, two-time Roland Garros runner-up Casper Ruud has odds of 9/1, following a run to the final in Monte Carlo, and then winning the biggest title of his career in Barcelona.
Monte Carlo champion and 2021 French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas is sixth favourite with 12/1 odds, while Alexander Zverev and Holger Rune round out the top eight favourites with the bookies.
List of French Open odds (as of May 4th 2024)
1) Carlos Alcaraz – 21/10
2) Novak Djokovic – 3/1
3) Jannik Sinner – 7/2
4) Rafael Nadal – 13/2
5) Casper Ruud – 9/1
6) Stefanos Tsitsipas – 12/1
7) Alexander Zverev – 16/1
8) Holger Rune – 20/1
