ATP Marseille Odds and Betting Preview: Tsonga favourite for Open 13

Story by Harry Maude on 2012-02-21 18:02:59

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - The Men's tennis is starting to get back properly underway after the Australian Open, with many of the top players having a break after the Melbourne event. This week sees another hard court tournament, the ATP 250 event at Marseille, and it looks to have a good group of players to fight it out for the €92,400 first prize. Last year's champion here, Robin Soderling, will not be back to defend his title, due to his continuing struggle with Glandular Fever, but the 2009 winner Joe-Wilfried Tsonga will be looking for a repeat win.

Tsonga is the favourite for the event, best priced at 13/5 with Paddy Power (bet £50 to make £130 profit). The 26-year-old Frenchman made the fourth round of the Australian Open before a shock defeat to Kei Nikishori, but won his two Davis Cup matches in his only competitive action since then. As Tsonga is top seed for the event, he received a bye into the second round, and he will play Nicolas Mahut in that match, after Mahut beat Arnaud Clement in his opening match. Tsonga is most at home on hard courts, and the World No. 6 is a worthy favourite.

Next in the betting is the 2009 US Open Champion Juan Martin del Potro, who is a top-priced 11/4 with Boylesports. The Argentinian has been beaten by Roger Federer in both of his last two tournaments, in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and the final of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Holland. Despite failing to take a set off Federer in either of those encounters, he has looked to be returning to something like his best, and the fourth seed could have a part to play in this tournament.

Mardy Fish enjoyed his best ever year in 2011, and the American is a 5/1 shot with Skybet to win this event. Fish made three consecutive hard court finals last year, and although he disappointed in the Australian Open, losing in the second round, he won his Davis Cup tie against Stanislas Wawrinka since then.

The fourth favourite for the event is Janko Tipsarevic, who is currently ranked at No. 9 in the world. The Serb lost in the third round at Melbourne, but is another to have been successful in the Davis Cup in the interim. The 27-year-old won two tournaments last year, and could face a tough semi-final clash against Fish if both players make it that far. Tipsarevic is a 9/1 chance with BetVictor to win the tournament.

Tipsarevic's Australian Open conqueror Richard Gasquet is at 12/1 with Paddy Power to win here, and he will be pleased with making the quarter-finals in Melbourne, before losing to David Ferrer. Gasquet plays Igor Kunitsyn if he comes through his first round match, and could play compatriot Tsonga if he makes the semi-finals.

ATP Marseille Open 13 winner betting odds

ATP Marseille Open 13 betting index