Simona Halep Still French Open Favorite After Early Exit at Australian Open

• Simona Halep is a +500 favorite to win the 2019 French Open
• The last 11 French Opens have produced nine different winners
• Since 1997, only one player has ever won the French Open Women’s Singles championship in back-to-back years

Now that the 2019 Australian Open has concluded, the attention shifts to the second tennis Grand Slam of the year: the French Open. The odds have been posted and Simona Halep is favored to win on the women’s side.

2019 French Open Odds

Halep Bounced Early in Australian Open

Simona Halep was among the favorites to win the 2019 Australian Open but the world’s No. 1 player fell way short of her aspirations. She was bounced in the Round of 16 in a three-set loss to Serena Williams.

The Australian Open was the first time in five tournaments that Halep has even won a single match.

It’s still early in the season but you might be concerned if you’re betting on Halep’s 2019 French Open odds right now as she hasn’t looked great. Remember, she lost in the Round of 16 of the Sydney event to Ashleigh Barty and then also lost early (the Round of 64) in the 2018 Beijing Open as well. As a matter of fact, the Australian Open was the first time in five tournaments that Halep has even won a single match. That five-match losing streak is the worst run of her career.

Now it’s @simona_halep with a killer return!#AusOpen #WAOW pic.twitter.com/QBaHaW0PTR

— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) January 21, 2019

The main concern was seeing how her back held up. That’s mostly what led to a number of those unexpected losses to end 2018. For the most part, the back looked fine and losing to Williams is nothing to be ashamed of.

Halep Still Favored at French Open

Halep (+500) is favored at the 2019 French Open and that’s not a surprise. Not only is she the defending champion, she’s been to the finals in three of the last five tournaments at Roland Garros.

1st Grand Slam title ✅
Year-end World No. 1 ✅@Porsche Race To Singapore Challenge winner ✅

Take a look back at @Simona_Halep‘s Top 10 moments as World No. 1… pic.twitter.com/TVm6qjlV5k

— WTA (@WTA) January 27, 2019

Clay is her best surface as she has a 75% winning percentage at the French Open. She’s no better than 68% at the other three grand slams. She’s 36-6 in her last 42 on clay; she’s 83-48 on all other surfaces over the last three seasons.

Who Else is a Good Bet?

While Rafael Nadal is the unquestioned King of Clay on the men’s side (he’s won 11 of the last 14 French Opens), the women’s side has been a complete crap shoot in terms of betting purposes. In the last 11 French Opens, only two players have won it more than once: Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.

In the last 11 French Opens, only two players have won it more than once: Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.

Halep has been close. As mentioned, she has made it to the finals or won it in three of the last five years. At the same time, she was also bounced in the second round in 2015 and fourth round in 2016.

Since 1997, only one player has ever won the French Open in back-to-back seasons and that was Justine Henin-Hardenne. On one hand, if there is a player that can do it, it’s probably Halep. At the same time, history and her current form don’t suggest it’s a good bet.

Elina Svitolina is one happy woman after that impressive win… #BrisbaneTENnis pic.twitter.com/ugIFwCod02

— #BrisbaneTennis (@BrisbaneTennis) January 5, 2018

Instead, I’d rather take a flier on Elina Svitolina (+1200), who is 20-3 in her last 23 clay court contests, or Serena Williams (+700), who had has played well in recent Grand Slams (losses in the 2018 Wimbledon and US Open finals, and a loss at the 2019 Australian Open quarters).