The French Open is almost upon us! The second major of the annual calendar, starting from Sunday, May 28 to June 11. Below, we’ve got you covered with a quick primer, a pre-tournament outright tennis pick and French Open Day 1 predictions.

Roland Garros without its King is going to be odd, but Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from his beloved principality, the Grand Slam that he’s reigned supreme over since winning his first title on the iconic stage of Court Philippe Chatrier as a swashbuckling 19-year-old in 2005, opens the door to a number of NextGen stars. 

Most notably, Carlos Alcaraz – the current World No. 1, the top seed in the draw, the French Open betting apps favorite across the sportsbook exchange. (Oh, and as it so happens, he’s from Spain, too – just as an aside.)

Not since the emergence of Nadal has there been such hype around a player. Deserved, mind you. He justified it by winning his maiden major title at the 2022 US Open as a ...wait for it…  19-year-old; thus, underscoring his then-growing credentials as the present and future of tennis. 

Recently, he established himself as a fitting heir apparent to his compatriot’s rule in Paris – though they are ridiculously big shoes to fill, make no mistake – by winning his second straight Madrid Masters title and third clay title of the season. 

With the oddsmakers, Alcaraz is tipped at +160 to lift La Coupe des Mousquetaires (the coveted French Open title) in 2023. He supplants two-time French Open champion and 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic (+250) on the tennis odds board as the player to beat. 

The other legitimate title contenders include Danish teen Holger Rune (+750), Russia’s mercurial Daniil Medvedev (+800), Italy’s rising star Jannik Sinner (+1100) and Greece’s No.1 and 2021 French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Our Pick to Win the 2023 French Open

Although Djokovic, the all-time leader in major wins (jointly with Nadal) is arguably a very tempting bet at +250, if we’re going to have a flutter on the French Open outrights, Alcaraz at +160 is the choice tennis pick here. Especially seeing as the pair are drawn together in the top half of the draw and are on a collision course in the semi-finals.

Looking at the bottom-half of the draw, Rune (+750) and Medvedev (+800) are on course for a final-four showdown as well, making one of them a solid bet to reach the final if not win the title. 

Indeed, Alcaraz versus Rune in the final is being tipped as the favorite outcome at +800 with Bet365’s “Name the Finalist” market. Alcaraz vs. Medvedev is the next-best-priced outcome at 850 followed by Djokovic vs Rune at +1100.

French Open Best Bet: Alcaraz +160 at Bet365

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French Open Day 1 Predictions

Here at Bookies.com, we will be bringing you daily predictions and picks, beginning with French Open Day 1. so without too much fuss, let’s take a deep dive into Sunday's tennis betting card and spot the best action on day one.

David Goffin vs. Hubert Hurkacz

The clash between David Goffin and Hubert Hurkacz is poised intriguingly at the sports betting exchange. It sets up a rematch of last year’s French Open third-round match between them which Hurkacz won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, 6-1. 

Hurkacz will be hoping for a repeat of that result and at -225 he is favored to advance. But Hurkacz hasn’t been lighting it up during the clay swing. That could expose him against a wily veteran such as Goffin, who knows how to make things tricky at the very least if not going the whole hog to pull off the upset.

French Open Best Bet: Goffin +4.5 (-115) at Caesars

Andrey Rublev vs Laslo Djere

Russia’s Andrey Rublev is the dark horse of the tournament at +5000 to win the title. A champion in Monte Carlo and a finalist at the Serbia Open in April, he’s put in a pretty solid run during the European clay swing. 

He takes on journeyman player Laslo Djere in the first round – a tough out on clay but a player he should overcome nonetheless.

French Open Best Bet: Under 35.5 (-118) at FanDuel

Ben Shelton vs Lorenzo Sonego

American hopeful Ben Shelton will have his work cut out to overcome Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the R128 of the French Open. 

Shelton’s clay-court game is a work in progress, going just 2-6 in ATP level tournaments since April. Sonego is quite rightly favored and is the value tennis pick at -250 to win outright.

French Open Best Bet: Sonego -250 at BetMGM

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Sebastian Korda vs  Mackenzie Mcdonald

The all-American showdown between Sebastian Korda and Mackenzie Mcdonald is skewed in the former’s favor on the tennis betting board, despite his limited play this season (injury). Korda recently returned to action but he lost his opening matches in Madrid and Rome. Mackenzie went winless through five-straight clay tournaments. 

On paper, Korda is the better bet. Plus, he has the surface advantage over his compatriot. But matches aren’t played on paper and with both players struggling on form, it’s more of a tossup than the tennis odds would suggest.

French Open Best Bet: Over 36.5 -115 at BetMGM