French Open Betting / Barry Millns / 18 May 2010 / 1

Justine Henin has a formidable record at Roland Garros and is determined to add to her four French Open titles. Meanwhile, a maturing talent can thrive on home support and a former-Wimbledon champion bids to pull off a shock. Barry Millns selects the best bets.

Justine Henin returns to Roland Garros after a three-year absence bidding for her fifth French Open title. She may have fallen early in Madrid but if she has fully recovered from the illness that struck her down after winning Stuttgart then expect the [3.05] favourite to be inspired on her return to her favourite tournament, where she won all of her last 17 matches in straight sets!

Having first lifted the trophy in 2003, the petite Belgian lost only one match in her next four visits, completing a further hat-trick of titles in 2007 when she dismissed Ana Ivanovic in the Serb's first grand slam final. The following year she announced her shock retirement on the eve of the event, only to come to Paris for the final and hand Ivanovic the champion's trophy.

Runner-up to Kim Clijsters (who has withdrawn from Paris) in her comeback tournament in Brisbane at the start of this season and then to Serena Williams [6.8], at the Australian Open, Henin's 21-6 win-loss record so far in 2010 has included victories over Ivanovic [50.0], Jelena Jankovic [9.2], Elena Dementieva [22.0], Caroline Wozniacki [29.0] and Samantha Stosur [18.0].

Henin may have one eye on trying to win an elusive Wimbledon title beyond Roland Garros, but expect her at least to be celebrating another birthday in the French capital on June 1 and quite possibly an eighth major singles title four days later.

Dark horse Aravane Rezai [25.0] enters her sixth French Open on the back of a stunning week's work in Madrid. The 23-year-old French player beat three former world number ones en route to picking up the biggest title of her career, despatching Henin and Jankovic before toppling Venus Williams [15.0] in the final.

Rezai's powerful serve and ground strokes, with an ability to hit winners from all corners of the court, is clearly proving a handful for others and is fundamental to her steady rise up the rankings. Ranked outside the Top 100 at the start of May last year, she reached the Top 50 last June following a run to the fourth round of the French Open, made the top 30 last November and now returns to Paris as number 16 in the world, assured of a strong seeding.

Having opted out of defending this week's title in Strasbourg as she recovers from her exploits in Madrid, Rezai will need to go deep in Paris at least to maintain her career-high ranking into the grass court season. As others like Amelie Mauresmo have experienced in the past, home expectation can weigh very heavily on French players at Roland Garros, but the maturing Rezai showed great mental strength in Madrid and strikes me as the kind of player who can now thrive on home support rather than be overwhelmed by it.

It's probably far too soon to expect very much of my long shot, the former Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova [65.0]. Having been hampered by an elbow injury this season following her 2009 comeback from shoulder surgery, the 23-year-old Russian is in urgent need of matches going into Paris.

But although grass and hard courts are Sharapova's better surfaces, her record at Roland Garros includes one semi-final and three other quarter-final appearances, including last year when she had only just returned to action after a nine-month lay-off. What she lacks in movement on the most demanding surface, she can to some extent overcome with her power, fighting spirit and proven big-match temperament.

If Sharapova gains enough court time this week in Strasbourg and as a top 16 seed makes it through the first week in Paris, then maybe such momentum can take her deep again.

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1. anaivanovic | 11 June 2011

   Ana, you are my idol. Thank you

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