Betting tips / Mathew Thompson / 04 June 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Having been out to as much as $18.50, Sam Stosur has firmed into $6.60 to win the French Open.

Australia's Sam Stosur has risen to second favourite to win the French Open following her victory over Sloane Stephens and the surprise elimination of world number one Victoria Azarenka.

Azarenka was the $4.20 second-pick before her surprise defeat, which has prompted Betfair traders to shorten Stosur from $18.50 to Betfair odds of (6.60) in women's tournament winner betting, placing her behind Russia's Maria Sharapova @ Betfair odds of (2.46)

This is a fairly clear indication that the punters' respect for Stosur is growing, and given Betfair players from around the globe trade in our markets, there is little patriotic bias, which is why Stosur sat at (18.50) to win the French Open last week.

Now at (6.60), Stosur looks in better shape than she did in 2010 when beaten in the final. Her next assignment is the player who ended Azarenka's tournament, Dominika Cibulkova, with the Australian currently the (1.76) favourite.

It wasn't all smooth sailing in the men's draw overnight, with world number one Novak Djokovic needing five sets to advance past Andreas Seppi, while Roger Federer was a winner in four against David Goffin.

These results have seen Rafael Nadal's stranglehold on the men's singles get even tighter @ Betfair odds of (1.58).

Djokovic has eased to (5.0) as second pick, and Federer sits third @(12.50), a price that reflects the opinion that this French Open is Nadal's to lose.