Men's French Open Betting: Golubev to make Murray work hard in slow conditions

Andy Murray could be set for a tough test today

Andy Murray begins his French Open campaign on Tuesday and Sean Calvert, fresh from tipping a big-priced winner yesterday, thinks it might be a tough day for the Brit...

It was a great day of tennis betting at Roland Garros on Monday, as my two suggested bets were both straight sets winners.

Martin Klizan drifted still further in the betting before the off to around 6.86/1 against Kei Nishikori, but whatever price you got him at it was still a bargain, as the Slovak dumped the number nine seed out with plenty to spare.

The expected damp conditions and Kei's questionable fitness made that match an accident waiting to happen for Nishikori and after failing to serve the first set out he was barely in it.

It was similarly comfortable for Robin Haase, who eased past Nikolay Davydenko 3-0 to make for a profitable day in the rain in Paris.

Tuesday should see the arrival of Andy Murray, weather permitting, and the fact that he requested the latest possible start from the tournament can't be a good sign for short priced punters.

Indeed, since I wrote my 'five potential first round upsets' article, of which Nishikori was one and Murray another, the Brit has eased in the betting a touch, but he still looks far too short for me against a very capable clay courter such as Andrey Golubev.

The lay of Murray to win this in straight sets at 1.758/11 looks the call here in a match that will be played in testing clay conditions and if Murray is struggling with injury this might be a very tricky day indeed.

The Russian-born Kazakh has the kind of attacking game that can hit through the stodgy surface here this week and Murray will do well to win this in three sets.

Another player who won't have problems hitting through the court is Nicolas Almagro, whose power and clay court ability should be far too much for the serve and forehand of Jack Sock.

The minus 6.5 games on the handicap at 1.84/5 looks a good choice in this one, with Sock likely to lose interest by the third set.

A couple more of my 'first round upsets' play today, as well as Golubev, with Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet both looking vulnerable due to injury, but otherwise it looks a day for the short-priced favourite.

David Ferrer, Pablo Cuevas, Almagro, Juan Monaco, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Philipp Kohlschreiber all look highly likely to win at short odds today and will today finally be the day that Marinko Matosevic wins a grand slam match?

Poor old Marinko has lost all 12 of his first round matches at majors, but surely he'll win one today against the unpredictable Dustin Brown?

You wouldn't bet on it though, would you.

Recommended Bets

Lay Murray to beat Golubev 3-0 at 1.75/7
Back Almagro -6.5 games to beat Sock at 1.84/5