French Open Odds: Defending Champs Nadal, Swiatek Roll into Quarterfinals as Heavy Favorites

Both Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek easily dispatched their opponents through the first four rounds of the French Open. Now, both come into their respective quarterfinal matchups at Roland Garros as heavy favorites to continue their title defenses.

Both 2020 French Open champions will be in action again on Wednesday, and while both faced highly ranked opponents, oddsmakers expect them to continue to advance without much issue.

Nadal overcomes slow start to win in straight sets

Nadal faced some resistance early on Monday when Jannik Sinner jumped out to a 5-3 lead and had a chance to serve for the first set. But Nadal dominated after that, winning 7-5, 6-3, 6-0 to take the win in straight sets. Nadal won the final 10 games to close out the match.

“I was playing a very good player with a big future,” Nadal said after his win.

Nadal now stands as the -175 pick to win the French Open on the men’s side of the draw, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. He’ll next play No. 10 seed Diego Schwartzman in the quarterfinals. Nadal, the 13-time champion at Roland Garros, enters as the -1400 pick over Schwartzman (+800).

Iga Swiatek has dominated just as much on the women’s side of the draw. Like Nadal, Swiatek hasn’t dropped a set yet in her title defense. She defeated Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk in the fourth round on Monday, turning back a stiff challenge 6-3, 6-4 in a 92-minute match.

“Playing the night session … is always hard, because you have to change the whole rhythm of the day, change the routines,” Swiatek said afterward. “I like [being tested] because it keeps me constantly on my toes. It just keeps you focused all the time, because you don’t have that flow.”

While Swiatek has definitively won every match at the French Open over the past two years, she’s doesn’t have as long a track record as Nadal, and as such, isn’t quite as big a favorite. Still, oddsmakers expect her to win the tournament, with FanDuel making Swiatek the -140 pick to earn a second straight title. She’ll come into her quarterfinal match as a -330 favorite over 17th seeded Maria Sakkari (+260).

Tsitsipas battles Medvedev in French Open quarters

Novak Djokovic survived a major scare on Monday, coming back from two sets down to beat Lorenzo Musetti. Djokovic won the final 13 games before Musetti retired due to lower back pain with the score 6-7 (9-7), 6-7 (7-2), 6-1, 6-0, 4-0.

“I like to play young guys in best-of-five because I feel even if they are leading a set or two to love, as it was the case today, I still like my chances,” Djokovic said afterward.

Also advancing on Monday was Coco Gauff. The 17-year-old advanced to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal by beating Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1.

French Open quarterfinal action begins Tuesday. In the marquee matchup of the day, No. 5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas (-205) takes on No. 2 Daniil Medvedev (+172) with the winner booking a likely date against No. 6 Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.