French Open Betting Tips: Gauff to provide stern test for Swiatek

We've reached the semi-final stage of the 2024 French Open and Thursday's two matches will see four women battle it out for a place in the showpiece event at Roland Garros.

The focus of my French Open betting tips is on top seed and two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek’s clash against 2023 US Open winner Coco Gauff.

Set Handicap - Coco Gauff +1.5 @ 13/8

World number one Swiatek survived a huge scare in the second round after producing a remarkable comeback to oust Naomi Osaka and that near-exit appears to have sparked her into life, with the Polish star losing just eight games across her next three matches.

The three-time French Open champion is producing some of her best tennis and it will take a big effort for any of her rivals to knock her off her Roland Garros perch, but semi-final opponent Gauff has the ability to trouble her.

American ace Gauff has a dismal record against Swiatek and has lost 10 of their 11 meetings, including the 2022 final and the quarter-final clash last year. However, the 20-year-old is a better player than 12 months ago and is now a Grand Slam winner after her 2023 US Open success.

Gauff won her first four matches in straight sets in Paris before being forced to come from behind to dispatch Tunisian eighth seed Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals, showcasing her grit and determination.

While Swiatek may ultimately have the quality to come through this test, her US rival is capable of taking a set and the 7/4 available on a +1.5 set handicap is hard to ignore.

Total Games - Over 18.5 @ 4/5

This contest looks to have a good chance of going to three sets and that brings in the total games market, with over 18.5 the play here.

While Swiatek has recorded a number of routine wins over Gauff, the American is an improved player from the early meetings between these two and a much closer match is expected.

These two met in the semi-finals in Rome this year, with the Pole running out a 2-0 winner, but they still played out 19 games and the pair can go over 18.5 again.

Last year’s quarter-final triumph for Swiatek over Gauff produced 18 games, missing out on the over mark by just one, but the way these two are playing suggests this encounter won’t be a short one.

Find more Tennis Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights