FRENCH OPEN BETTING: SMART MONEY ON FAVES VERDASCO, MONACO AND MELZER

Fernando Verdasco, Juan Monaco and Jurgen Melzer are getting set to get their bids underway today when they take on Igor Kunitsyn, Grega Zemlja and Dudi Sela, respectively in the first round of the French Open.
All three are solid favourites at William Hill to advance in the outright betting market. William Hill is also offering over 30 different markets on these clashes as well as a wide array in Live Betting.
Verdasco is after a standout European clay-court swing with a title in Barcelona and two runners-up in Monte Carlo and Nice. The Spaniard is a hot favourite to win today, listed at 1/20 over Kunitsyn at 8/1.
Kunitsyn doesn’t have the form ahead of the French Open to suggest he could beat Verdasco but he is the kind of player that could make things difficult. Verdasco should go through in straight tight sets, possibly four sets.
Monaco on paper has a straightforward affair against unheralded Grega Zemlja. Monaco is a clay-court specialist that makes a living on his trade on the red dirt. William Hill bookies favour Monaco a solid 1/12 to advance over Zemlja 6/1. The Slovenian is an untried entity on the ATP Tour this season. Monaco  therefore should go through with little fuss.
Jurgen Melzer is on-form ahead of his clash against Dudi Sela with some solid results, namely a quarterfinal appearance in Madrid a few weeks back. Melzer has an overwhelming advantage on this surface and as such, bookies tip him as the 1/8 favourite and Sela the 9/2 underdog.
Melzer at times can suffer from lapses in concentration. If he should do so today, it wouldn't be surprising if he gets drawn into a slug fest with Sela. Problem is, give Sela half a chance and he might come through. Melzer has to be wary if he is to come through on his favourite odds. I think he just might because he is in the best form (by his standards) he has been in some time.