ATP Doha Final: Gael Monfils v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Odds and Betting Preview

Story by Tristan Wootton on 2012-01-07 13:14:34

DOHA, QATAR - Gael Monfils takes on compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the all-French final at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex this afternoon, with Tsonga narrowly favoured by the bookmakers to win the Qatar Open title.

Many tennis fans will be disappointed that the Nadal v Federer final failed to materialise, but the Qatar Open final still promises to be exciting, although neither Monfils nor Tsonga are expected to play a major role in the Australian Open later this month.

Tsonga is generally available at odds of 4/5 to win the match, and is best priced at 10/11 with Coral to over-come Monfils. Tsonga leads the head-to-head 2-1, with all three games coming on hard courts, although Monfils took the most recent encounter 2-1 at Montpellier in 2010.

The money this morning has come in for Monfils, who is no longer a clear under-dog, and is now an 11/10 chance with Skybet, having been available at 6/5 with bet365 just hours ago. Monfils is nine places behind Tsonga in the ATP rankings in 15th spot, but impressed onlookers, including footballer Franck Ribery, with his court coverage to record a second win over Rafa Nadal in the Qatar Open in three years.

The press drew comparisons with Djokovic after Monfils stunned his opponent 6-3, 6-4, running Nadal ragged and sending any number of pulsating forehands past the Spaniard. Going into the semis, Monfils was a 12/1 chance with Stan James to win the tournament, with Nadal and Federer strong in the betting as the 5/4 joint-favourites.

Tsonga ended a great 2011 with an agonising 2-1 loss to Federer at the ATP World Finals in London, but he progressed to the final in Doha after the same opponent had to withdraw due to back spasms. The Le Mans-born star could make a break-through in 2012 as he bids to win his first Grand Slam. Tsonga's previous best was making the Australian Open Final in 2008, which he lost 3-1 to Djokovic after winning the first set, and he is slightly shorter in the betting for Melbourne than Wimbledon this year at 20/1 with Bodog.

With the match betting looking fairly uninspiring at 10/11 and 11/10, tennis bettors can turn to other markets to provide them with an 'interest' during the clash.

In the set betting, Tsonga is 2/1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill to triumph 2-0, with a straight sets win for Monfils on offer at 5/2 with bet365. A 2-1 thriller to Tsonga is a stand-out 10/3 with Betfred, and would give him plenty of confidence going into Melbourne.

It is 6/5 with Boylesports and BetVictor that the match goes to a third set, and 10/11 with Betfred for over 22.5 games to be played.

In the first set correct score betting, 6-3 and 6-2 to Monfils are tempting at 7/1 and 14/1 respectively with bet365, whilst Tsonga is a juicy 13/2 with Irish bookie Paddy Power to win it 7-6, which was the outcome of his first and second round first sets in Doha.

Finally, Monfils is 6/1 with Ladbrokes to lose the first set but win the match, and it is 11/20 with William Hill for there to be no tie breaks this afternoon.

The Australian Open favourite is Djokovic at 6/4 with Unibet, with Monfils and Tsonga on offer at 100/1 and 16/1 respectively with Ladbrokes. If Monfils wins this afternoon his odds could well tumble as punters look for alternatives to the red-hot favourite.

Gael Monfils v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Match Odds

Gael Monfils v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Set Betting Odds

Gael Monfils v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga First Set Correct Score Odds

Australian Open Odds