The curtain is set to come down on the 2023 French Open on Sunday when the men’s final between No.3 seed Novak Djokovic and No. 4 seed Casper Ruud gets underway on Court Philippe Chatrier. And on this very last day  -- of what has been an exhilarating two-week long tournament – history is on the line in Paris. 

Djokovic is one win away from becoming the all-time leader with 23 Grand Slam titles. Equally, Ruud is one win away from winning a maiden major title and becoming the first-ever Norwegian Grand Slam champion in men’s singles. 

Which of these deserving finalists will get to write history at Roland-Garros this Sunday? Will the undeniable Djokovic triumph? The bookmakers, pundits and fans widely expect he will indeed. 

Or will Ruud pull off the unthinkable? The greatest upset of all time that would send seismic shockwaves off the Richter scale through tennis betting markets.

Here at Bookies.com, we’ve been serving up predictions and picks from Roland-Garros every single day. So, for one last time, join us as we take a final deep dive into the men’s singles tournament and spot the best French Open Men’s Final predictions complete with tennis odds from the top-rated sportsbooks.

2023 French Open Final Odds For Djokovic vs Ruud

The market outlook should come as no surprise to anyone, bullish as it is on the Serbian’s chances. Djokovic is currently trading at a high of -500, up from an opening -450.  Ruud, by contrast, is trading as low as +340, dropping ever so slightly from his opening odds of +360. Does the market have it right?

2023 French Open Final Alternate Betting Lines

Djokovic vs Ruud: How They Got to The French Open Final

Two-time French Open champion Djokovic reached his third French Open final in four years, and seventh overall, after ousting an injury-stricken Carlos Alcaraz in the semis. 

What was a highly anticipated semifinal, widely billed as tennis’ equivalent of El Classico, sadly proved to be anticlimactic in the end, ruined when Alcaraz was overcome by severe cramping at one set all. Thus, paving the way for Djokovic to clinch the match 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.

For the first two sets that lasted almost two and a half hours, fans were riveted by the back-and-forth thriller unfolding before them. Both players delivered a highlight-reel worth of ridiculous shot-making skills. Including one by Alcaraz that went viral within seconds of making it. 

Interestingly, Djokovic was the first to call a medical timeout midway through the second set, raising concerns after receiving treatment on his wrist and arm. His serve mph visibly declined while his shots lost some of their pop. However, the consummate champion used every bit of his experience and relentless will to stay competitive.

His perseverance was rewarded, though in the worst way possible. At 1-all in the third set, Alcaraz’s body seized up. First, the cramps gripped his hands. Then, his legs, rendering him utterly helpless. It was clear from that point on that there was no way back into the match for the Spaniard. Especially with Djokovic, like a lion circling his wounded prey, ruthlessly seized the moment to run away with it.

Ruud booked his place in the final opposite Djokovic with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 victory over Alexander Zverev in the day’s second – dare it be said, anticlimactic – semifinal. In their case, however, injury wasn’t a factor. Zverev simply couldn’t keep up with Ruud and quickly ran out of ideas. 

The Norwegian No. 1 entered the draw as a middling contender, coasting under the radar after arriving in Paris on the heels of a lackluster season. But he’s played himself into the tournament. 

In the last three rounds, Ruud appears to have tapped into top form again in the French capital to make his second straight final and third major final in the last year and a half.

2023 French Open Final Best Bets & Predictions

Ruud made his maiden foray into a major final last year in Paris where he lost to his boyhood idol, Rafael Nadal, in straight sets. He would go on to make his second major breakthrough by reaching the US Open final later that summer only to lose to Alcaraz. 

Now, on his third attempt at Grand Slam glory, he comes up against Djokovic. Ruud has lost all four of their previous meetings without winning a set. He’s also never faced the Serbian legend at a major before. 

In order to crack the championship circle, the Norwegian must do something he’s never done before and that is beat Djokovic. Of course, that’s easier said than done under most circumstances. Never mind when Djokovic is looking to bid adieu to Paris with his 23rd major title in hand, which would break the tie with his arch rival Nadal for the most Grand Slam titles.

That said, Ruud’s third crack at a final could prove to be the charm.

To begin with, he’s at his best when he’s playing on his beloved clay. Secondly, his previous trips to a major final will prepare him well for his role as the underdog again. Especially, given the fact that he’s faced the best player to ever play on this surface in Nadal. Ruud to win outright can be backed at +350 with BetMGM.

At the very least, backing Ruud to win a set or give Djokovic a run for his  money, if nothing else, is worth considering here. Ruud to cover the 5.5-point games handicap is juiced to -120 with Caesars. At the same time, Ruud to win a set can be backed at -200 with bet365.

Finally, Djokovic raised fitness concerns of his own in Friday’s semifinal. If he’s not 100% fit, one has to believe Ruud’s chances are slightly better than the odds suggest. Moreover, the longer the match goes, the better his chances might become. Indeed, the total is projected to 36.5 across the sportsbook exchange, underscoring the notion that this final could go to four sets at the very least. 

The Picks:

• Ruud to Win A Set: -200 at bet365
• Over 36.5 (-118) FanDuel
• Ruud +5.5 (+102) Caesars
• Ruud to win +350 at BetMGM