Roland Garros Expert Tips and Best Bets | May 24

After a week of qualifiers, the French Open proper is finally upon us, with a huge slate of matches scheduled for the first day’s play on Sunday. Below you can take a look at our best bets as the second Grand Slam of the year kicks off.

As the 26th seed, Baptiste might feel a little aggrieved at being drawn against a former Roland Garros champion in the first round, but Krejčiková has not exactly enjoyed much success at this event since her breakthrough win in 2021. In fact, in the four French Opens since, she has been knocked out in the first round three times and the second round the other. Baptiste, meanwhile, is an improving young player who had her best showing in any Grand Slam at this tournament last year when she made the fourth round, and having enjoyed a solid albeit inconsistent clay season so far she can make her way through to the second round on Sunday.

A bit of a value play here, with most betting sites offering around $3 for Etcheverry to win this one in straight sets. This is a decent matchup between a couple of top 50 players in the world, but Etcheverry is ranked 25 spots higher for a reason and that gap is magnified further on clay. The Argentine has been solid without being spectacular so far this clay season, but he has consistently beaten players he’s more highly ranked than, and generally in straight sets. Borges has been okay leading into this tournament, but he’s lost more matches than he’s won on clay this season and has been defeated by numerous inferior players to Etcheverry. $3 for a straight set win looks like value.

Damir Dzumhur is no easybeat, and despite the clear differential between these two at this stage of their career the Bosnian journeyman will fight tooth and nail to make this a contest. But as the 21st seed at this event, there is no denying that Fokina should have his opponent’s measure relatively comfortably in this one. He hasn’t had the results he would have liked over the past few weeks but has played some very capable opponents, and against the more lowly ranked Dzumhur should be able to flex his muscle. This looms as a comfortable victory for Fokina in the first round.