French Open Betting / Ben Caudell / 25 May 2010 /

Lleyton Hewitt is not one to hide away when the going gets tough and a first-round encounter against a home favourite is tough indeed. This is just the sort of match he's made a career out of winning and just the sort of match we can see him win today, says Ben Caudell.

Australian stalwart Lleyton Hewitt is back at a place where he feels most at home, the major Grand Slam tournaments and the five set format. No Grand Slam event would be the same without the battling Aussie taking us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, wrestling his way back from two sets down to then come back and win in five.

Hewitt has won four of the last five in five- setters and rarely loses so early on in a Slam, in fact he has only ever lost twice at this stage in the tournament, and both matches were on home soil at the Australian Open, in 2002 and in 2009. His record at the French Open also exemplifies his battling qualities and appreciation for the clay courts of Roland Garros. He has consistently reached the second week of the French Open and in his illustrious career has always made it past the second round.

Hewitt is 7-3 in Grand Slams, 6-3 on clay and 7-3 in all matches; however he has lost five in a row when priced as favourite.

Today's match against the home favourite Jeremy Chardy will test Hewitt's resolve. Chardy has been playing some decent tennis in the lead-up to this year's Open with wins over Juan Monaco, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Albert Montanes on the dirt.

The Frenchman is 6-4 at Roland Garros, 4-6 on clay and 4-6 in Grand Slams, losing in the first round of his last three Grand Slam tournaments. This will be the first encounter between the Aussie and the Frenchman on the ATP Tour, and I can see this being won in either four or five sets.

Chardy has the advantage of the home support but does he have the game to contain the pumped up Aussie? Hewitt has always fared well against big servers and big hitters such as Jeremy Chardy, he enjoys counter-attacking these kinds of players, running them ragged around the court.

Hewitt was slowed down by a stomach virus at the World Team Cup in Germany after recovering from hip surgery last week and this could be a bit of a worry. However, he will be in good spirits after he announced to OK magazine that him and his wife Bec are expecting a third baby...

Selection:

Back Lleyton Hewitt @ 1.93 to win match
Back Hewitt 3-1 @ 5.0 (small bet)

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