MONTE CARLO ROLEX MASTERS OUTRIGHT BETTING - CAN ANYONE STOP NADAL

The spring clay court season, already a week old after Charleston and Casablanca started the proceedings, brings a trifecta of Masters Series events to the forefront of the tennis betting markets; starting with the first of the trio, the Monte Carlo Masters that runs this week, and continuing forth with Rome and Madrid, these three prestigious events are but a preview of the real showdown, the main act that will take place at the end of May at the French Open.
It is safe to assume the tennis betting markets are really heating up right now and will only continue gathering pace before reaching ultimate climax in Paris.
Leading the star-studded cast in Monaco is top seed Novak Djokovic, who receives top honours in lieu of world No.1 Roger Federer’s absence from the event. In spite of his top dog status though Djokovic is not the main attraction as all eyes will be on Rafael Nadal, the five-time defending champion, as he guns for an unprecedented sixth title in a row.
Naturally, Rafael Nadal leads the ATP Monaco market; top UK bookmaker, William Hill has Nadal installed as the firm favourite trading at 4/7 odds. Given the Spaniards reputation as the "Clay Court King," arguably the best clay court player of all time even, this casting should come as no surprise. It is de rigueur – justly so and there is no reason to question his status as the short-odds-on favourite.
There is also no reason to doubt he will not win his sixth consecutive Monte Carlo title. Some tennis bettors are concerned (understandably so) about the fact that Nadal is conspicuously without a title on the season and arrives in Monte Carlo on the heels of uncharacteristic losses. His let ups against Ljubicic (Indian Wells semis) and Roddick (Miami Masters semis) are a hefty charge against him that his critics are quick to hold as proof-positive all is not right in his camp.
That there has been a chink in his armour, a let up in his usual indomitable standards would be silly to deny. Clearly, he is still sorting things out on court and trying to say otherwise would be pointless. But I would caution tennis bettors not to read too much into it. Dismissing Nadal would be rash and premature.  Keep in mind the lad has lost all but four matches in the last four years on clay. [That is something to be agog about.]
If I may remind you, in 2008 Nadal arrived in Monte Carlo without a title on the season and many of the same doubts and question marks hanging over his head. But didn’t he go on to launch an incredible run that year that would see him accomplish the French Open-Wimbledon double and pick up six more titles (including the clay-court trifecta of Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg), and usurp Federer from his comfy perch atop the ATP rankings.
I think Monte Carlo will be the first real measure of where Nadal truly is in terms of form. Until then, he should be given the benefit of the doubt. He deserves it.
Going back to Djokovic for a moment, William Hill is offering the Serbian starlet at 11/2 odds. He is second in the market queue to the title and that is where he should be. He was after all, the best clay court player after Nadal last season. Almost had him at the Madrid Masters semis he did, in a match that went the distance – three sets and lasted an incredible four hours – only to be denied by Nadal and some out of this world shot making.
In terms of form, Djokovic is mixed this season and there have been some peculiar losses lately, namely his loss to Olivier Rochus at Miami just a fortnight ago. Too early to say this is symptomatic of some deep-seeded confidence crisis though. Thinking is he will bounce back in Monty.
Andy Murray is also present and accounted for. He is trading at 10/1 odds at William Hill, which are rather generous if you ask me and more a function of his top five pretensions than any clay court skills he might have. Let us face it: Murray and clay do not a match in heaven make. The surface is his weakest of all surfaces. That said, he has hired a coach just for his clay court game, so perhaps he is going to up the ante. I wouldn't hold my breath (tres sorry).
Outside favourites at William Hill begin with Marin Cilic listed at 16/1, and move down the list with Fernando Verdasco and David Nalbandian at 20/1, Tomas Berdych at 25/1, David Ferrer at 33/1, Stanislas Wawrinka and Juan Carlos Ferrero at 40/1 and Nicolas Almagro at 50/1, to name a few.