The 2010 French Open

• Fernando Verdasco: Fernando Verdasco came within minutes of upsetting Rafael Nadal in a tense semifinal at the 2009 French Open. Verdasco, like Nadal, is at home on clay, and has the stamina and skill to go all the way in the 2009 French Open.



• Venus Williams: The elder Williams sister has never won a French Open title, coming closest to winning the title in 2002 when she lost to Serena in the final. The French Open will be her chance of winning the tournament for the first time.
  
  
• We've got our eyes on Dinara Safina at the moment, she has been on fire with her excellent clay court season and is proving to be quite a tough contender for the women's singles title at the French Open.

• Clay is regarded as one of the toughest surfaces to play on as it leeches both power and speed from shots thereby forcing players to rely on tactical shots and agility.


• Pete Sampras, the most successful mens singles player of all time when measured by grand slam titles won, never claimed the French Open title.


• The French Open rewards the most outgoing, extroverted player at the tournament with a prize known as the Prix Citron.


• The record for the youngest player to win a grand slam title was set by Michael Chang at the 1989 French Open at the age of 17 years 3 months.

Provided he doesn't succumb to injury ahead of, or during, the French Open, it's hard to imagine a more popular choice in the French Open outright winner betting markets than reigning champion, Rafael Nadal

With the Spaniard's French Open odds likely to shrink ever-further as the tournament approaches, tennis fans will be looking to get the best value odds on the King of Clay as soon as possible.

Outright winner betting on the womens' draw is likely to provide better value, as the draw for the 2009 French Open features a number of players more than capable of winning the title. The high prices on offer on top womens players means that tennis fans can afford to place each-way bets on their favourite players and still earn a payout if their players finish the French Open as runners-up. Check out the tennis betting guide if you're new to placing tennis bets.