For the first time in five years Rafael Nadal will go into a semi final at the French Open without the support of bookmakers. Novak Djokovic has been promoted to favourite at 19/20, thanks largely to a quarter-final bye handed to him following the withdrawal of Fabio Fognini. Nadal has really had the betting yips drifting out to 9/4 with some online bookmakers.

There will be a lot of interest in Andy Murray’s match, postponed until today with the scores locked up at two sets apiece. A win by Murray would be sensational given he was two sets down and a break down in the third before fighting back and taking the third and fourth sets. One feels he may be the one ruing the match being halted because of time. If Murray is slow to start in the fifth set when play resumes, he can kiss goodbye to progressing on to the semi-finals.

In outright betting, bookmakers have Novak Djokovic at 19/20; Rafael Nadal at 9/4; Roger Federer at 17/2; Robin Soderling at 21/1 and Andy Murray at 25/1. Soderling will have to get past Nadal in the quarter-final while Federer will face local hero Gael Monfils in his quarter-final.

Federer has played well although he is no where near his brilliant best of three or four years ago. Monfils may just find that little extra and win this match and at 6/1, looks to be a value bet. Soderling is 5/2 to defeat Nadal and while we think he’s in with a chance, those odds are a little skinny for our liking. Viktor Troicki is at 3/1 to take the fifth set from Murray and given Murray’s slow starts in this tournament, could be another value bet.

In outright betting – it’s hard to go past Djokovic – he just keeps on winning and at close to even money, he’s our tip.