It's time to dig into some first round French Open betting action on the clay in Paris. My two favorite bets on the opening day at Roland Garros will both get underway at 5 a.m,. ET., so let's get this party started early.
Anastasia Potapova (+350) vs. Angelique Kerber
Sunday, 5 a.m. ET
Kerber’s worst surface is by far and away clay. She’s 1-2 in 2019 on clay, most recently being forced to retire from Madrid with a right ankle injury.
On the flip side, clay is Potapova’s best surface. She made a final on clay in 2018 and earned a top-20 win over Anastasija Sevastova on the dirt this year.
Kerber is the deserved favorite given her class, but she has never performed that well in Paris. Her best finishes came in 2012 and 2018 when she made the quarterfinals. The German hasn't played that much tennis as of late (something she usually does) and is certainly vulnerable early on in this tournament.
I have Potapova as a +245 underdog, so there’s a decent amount of value on the Russian at her current number. If she can stay in the match early, she will be able to build confidence and push a potentially rusty Kerber to the brink.
Johanna Larsson (-120) vs. Magdalena Rybarikova
Sunday, 5 a.m. ET
Rybarikova has had a woeful 2019 campaign and is coming off a retirement four weeks ago in Madrid for unknown reasons. She’s never been a consistent clay-court performer despite making the third round here in Paris last year.
Larsson has not had the best 2019 campaign, either, but she at least comes into Paris fit, having just knocked off Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets last week before losing to Katerina Siniakova.
Larsson’s best surface is the red clay, whereas it's the worst surface for Rybarikova. I have Larsson as a -150 favorite, so the -120 offered right now is strong value for a matchup against an off-form — and perhaps injured — Rybarikova.
The Swede should have too much class on this surface.
