2022 French Open: Novak Djokovic Betting Odds, Preview & Prediction
History was made on the Men's side at the Australian Open earlier this season, as Rafael Nadal defeated Daniil Medvedev for his 21st Grand Slam title. That broke a three-way tie that he was previously a part of with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who each have won 20 career Grand Slams.
The second major of the tennis season is the French Open at Roland Garros, which will run from May 22nd to June 5th. The clay surface is difficult for even the best of players to adapt to, as evidenced by the fact that just three of Federer's and Djokovic's combined 40 Grand Slam titles have been won at Roland Garros. Even Pete Sampras, who ranks fourth on the all-time list of Grand Slam champions, never won a French Open title.
This is the first annual BettingPros Guide to the French Open, where we will highlight several of the top contenders from both the Men's and Women's Draws.
Is Rafael Nadal a shoo-in for his 14th French Open title, which would be five more than any other player won at any Grand Slam event? Will we have our ninth different women's champion in the last nine years? Or can Barbora Krejcikova become the first repeat champion since Justine Henin's three-peat from 2005-07?
Read on for our thoughts and predictions for Novak Djokovic in the 2022 French Open.
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Novak Djokovic Stats to Know
- Best Odds to Win: +200 (BetMGM)
- World Ranking: 1
- Best French Open Finish: W (2016, 2021)
- Last 4 French Open Finishes: W, F, SF, QF
- Last 4 tournament finishes: W (ATP Masters 1000 Rome) SF (ATP Masters 1000 Madrid), F (Belgrade), R32 (ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo
Novak Djokovic French Open History
Djokovic is the defending champion at Roland Garros and has improved his finishes at each of the previous four French Opens. It took 12 years before Djokovic broke through for his first French Open title in 2016, but he made four semifinal appearances and lost in the finals on three other occasions in that span. Djokovic's five-year gap between French Open titles in 2016 and 2021 is the most prolonged period between Grand Slam victories in his career.
Novak Djokovic Recent Form
Djokovic was anything but his usual dominant self at the start of 2022. Through his first 13 matches of the season, Djokovic was 9-4 and won 19 of his 30 sets played. That 69.2% winning percentage was on pace to be his lowest winning percentage in any calendar year since he won 50% of his matches in 2005. And for perspective, Djokovic has won fewer than 80% of his matches in a calendar year just once since 2009.
Djokovic dropped a set in each of his first three matches in Belgrade before losing to Russian Andrey Rublev in three sets in the finals. After the tournament, Djokovic revealed he had been dealing with an illness that started before the beginning of the Monte Carlo Open. Thus, whether it is because of the lingering effects of the illness or Father Time is catching up with him, there are questions about Djokovic's fitness entering the French Open. However, winning in Rome last week should give Djokovic backers some optimism.
Novak Djokovic French Open Predictions
The Pick: Novak Djokovic to Win (+200 via BetMGM)
Djokovic went from the third-best odds to win the French Open behind Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz to being the favorite or, at worst, co-favorite at most sportsbooks. However, his win in Rome changed his outlook on his chances at Roland Garros tremendously, as did Rafael Nadal’s foot injury he suffered in his last tournament.
Djokovic and Nadal are on a collision course to meet in the quarterfinals, so just to reach the semifinals is an arduous task for Djokovic. Had Nadal been 100% healthy entering this Grand Slam, there would have been no way we could fade the Spaniard. But given so many question marks surrounding his health, we expect Djokovic to beat Nadal for the third time in his career at Roland Garros and eventually go on to his record-tying 21st career Grand Slam title.
French Open 2022 Betting Odds, Preview & Predictions
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Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.