Tennis Tips - French Open Day 1 Tips

We’re off to Roland Garros for Day 1 of the French Open, and a highly touted American seed could find himself in a first-round fight against a fellow countryman.

Best Bet

Sara Bejlek -2.5

Game Handicap

Bet Now

$1.74

Not a great clay court lead-up for Bejlek, but the 20-year-old has shown enough in 2026 winning in Abu Dhabi in February.

Bejlek is facing veteran Sloane Stephens who could be on here farewell tour – ranked 361 in the world with a 6-10 record for the year, including going 2-7 in the main draw of the WTA tour.

In her eight matches as underdog this year, Stephens has covered the line just twice and has really been blown away recently – she lost to the world number 401 in Rouen 6-2 6-1.

This should be regulation for Bejlek who is looking to get back on the winners list.

Next Best

Fritz vs Basavareddy Over 35.5

Total Games

Bet Now

$1.73

This is dangerous for Taylor Fritz – he’s missed two months of tennis since Miami, and returned this week in Geneva where he lost in his only clay court match in this prep to Popyrin.

Basavareddy is a 21-year-old promising American, who has played plenty of clay court tennis this year – mainly at challenger level. That being said, he’s 12-5 on the surface and did take a set off Tien in Houston.

I would be shocked if Fritz advanced in straight sets, and to be honest I’m even tempted to take Basavareddy to upset the world number 7 at $4.

Hugo Dellien

Match

Bet Now

$1.72

Dellien is an established clay courter – he’s gone 25-11 this year this year, albeit plenty of that at challenger level, but it’s his surface of choice.

He faces Valentin Royer who has struggled in 2026. On the main tour, he’s 1-12, and overall the Frenchman is still just 10-17.

The Bolivian performed well in qualifying including beating the dangerous Roberto Carballés Baena, and is well positioned to advance in the first round here.

Sonego vs Herbert Under 38.5

Total Games

Bet Now

$1.87

Sonego has been poor this year – but he still should be winning this, with his record at majors relatively strong. That being said, regardless of the outcome I just don’t see this going over this total games line.

Only one of Sonego’s nine matches have gone over the total games this year, while Herbert’s only main tour match was a loss to Royer – yes, the 1-12 main tour Royer we just discussed, and it was a demolition job of Herbert.

Herbert has been poor on the challenger circuit, and with the 35-year-old now ranked outside the top-200 this feels like a farewell more than anything – anything less than five sets will be a total games under, and I don’t see either player having the fight or desire to force a fifth.

Bonzi vs Zverev Over 29.5

Total Games

Bet Now

$1.78

Zverev enters the French Open with some lower back concerns – not enough to see the German retire from the tournament, but enough to suggest it won’t be that easy against giant-killer Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.

Bonzi hasn’t played much tennis this year, but since 2024 he’s 3-2 against top-10 opposition – one of those losses was an injury retirement when a set apiece with Fritz, and the other was in Madrid this year where he took the first set against Sinner.

He’s capable of winning a set or at least forcing a tiebreak, and if he does that it goes well over the total games line.

Value Bet

Emma Raducanu

Match

Bet Now

$2.37

Hasn’t played much tennis lately, with just the one clay court match in the lead-up, but she can easily cause an upset here.

Raducanu will face Argentine Solana Sierra – the 21-year-old has moved to 64 in the world off the back of a strong showing at both Madrid and Rome.

But Sierra has expectations to win this, which she hasn’t handled well on the WTA Tour. She’s 3-6 as a favourite this year – and the lack of expectation for a Raducanu win could quite easily have the opposite effect.

Multi

Blockx (M) / Djokovic (M) / Etcheverry (M) / Bejlek (W) / Bencic (W) / Starodubtseva (W) = $4.70

Sports Journalist

Dale Crotty

Few know the NBA like Dale, who has spent years backing winners for punters across a number of publications and podcasts. He also specialises in tennis and AFL.