ROLAND GARROS, PARIS, FRANCE -- Paris will come alive this week, as the glitterati of professional tennis arrive in Paris to contest the Roland Garros French Open 2008 tennis tournament.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Roland Garros French Open, and is being billed as the tournament that will mark "80 years of emotion".
While there is sure to be sentiment aplenty around the clay courts of Roland Garros, it is the on-court action that tennis fans have been looking forward to. With a tradition of epic five set encounters and heroic rallies, the French Open is recognised as the most gruelling grand slam event on tour.
French Open 2008 - Men's Draw
The men's draw at the French Open will be fiercely contested in 2008, as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer jostle for the position of world number one. Nadal is 8/11 favourite to win the tournament, given his flawless French Open record.
However, it is impossible to dismiss Novak Djokovic's chances at the 2008 French Open. The Serbian player has already obtained one grand slam title during 2008, and has also claimed a Masters event on clay this year. Bookmakers have Djokovic priced at generous odds of 5/1 to win the French Open, making him an excellent option for Each Way bets.
Although Roger Federer is priced second in French Open betting markets at odds of 9/4, he will need to improve on the poor form he has shown so far this year, in order to claim his first French Open title. With only one ATP tour title beneath his belt for 2008, Federer looks more likely to succumb to the clay court wizardry of a Latin American player than to lift the Coup des Mousquetaires.
French Open 2008 - Women's Draw
The women's singles draw for the 2008 French Open has been blown wide open by the premature and unexpected departure of reigning champion Justine Henin. Henin has dominated the French Open for the last 5 years, and her competitors will be welcoming the opportunity to challenge for top honours in the tournament.
Serena Williams is 5/2 favourite to take over from Henin as French Open champion, based on signs of her resurgence this season. Williams last claimed a French Open title in 2002, but seems to be on the verge of producing yet another spectacular top-level comeback with the power and experience to blast her younger opponents off the court.
World number one Maria Sharapova is priced 5/1 to stop Williams in her tracks. While Sharapova possesses the skill and experience to outwit Williams, her game is not ideally suited to clay and she has never progressed beyond the semi-finals of the French Open tournament.
Jelena Jankovic may be a better bet to cause an upset in the women's draw of the 2008 French Open. 5/1 priced Jankovic is a skilful clay court player, and has claimed 4 of her 7 WTA titles on clay, including her recent win at the Tier I Rome Open. The only thing counting against the Serbian player is her lack of grand slam experience, never having advanced beyond the semi-finals in any grand slam event.
About French Open Tennis
For more information on the French Open tennis tournament, including daily news posts, results and the latest odds, visit French Open Tennis. The site provides a comprehensive source of information for those wishing to learn more about one of the biggest tennis tournaments of the year.
As the official partner of top UK bookmaker William Hill, French Open Tennis is able to offer tennis fans the opportunity to cash in on a unique offer. All visitors to the site can earn a free £25 bet on the Roland Garros French Open 2008, by clicking on the link on the top right-hand side of the site.
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