posted March 3, 2008 at 19:20 EST in Tennis Betting Trends

With the 2008 French Open, still nearly three months away from its May 25th start date, this BetUS.com ATP Tennis Wagering article will look at the French Open Odds on each of the top three French Players in the world and analyze each player’s realistic chances of winning the 2008 French Open – and the first grand slam of each player’s respective career.

Richard Gasquet+3000

Gasquet, who will be just 22 this June, is currently ranked seventh in the world with a 6-3 record this season and is undeniably the most accomplished player in this group with a 136-87 career. However, the man they call ‘Baby Federer’ has not yet shown the ‘killer instinct’ that is necessary to really move into the game’s upper echelon with players like the Federer, Rafael Nadal and now, Novak Djokovic.

While Gasquet’s style ‘looks’ similar to Federer’s, that’s about the only thing he has in common with the world’s number one player. While Gasquet has the highest ranking of any player in this trio, until he shows me some serious grit in the face of adversity, I’m going to remain skeptical about Gasquet’s chances of winning any of the four major grand slam events. At 6-foot-1 and just 165 pounds, Gasquet may need to bulk up just a bit in order to gain some more strength.

Gael Monfils+8000

While Federer has called the 21-year-old, 6-foot-4-inch Monfils, “the fastest player on tour” on more than one occasion, the lanky, athletic Frenchman, has failed to live up to his immense athletic gifts because of a lack of experience, poise and maturity.

Currently ranked No. 51 in world, Monfils has a mediocre career record of 69-64 that illustrates his lack of discipline despite his overwhelming athletic gifts. However, if this kid ever puts it all together, he could win more than one grand slam title before he’s through. Still, Monfils’ first, won’t come at this year’s French Open.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga N/A

Tsonga had an absolutely thrilling run to this year’s Aussie Open Final and beat World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in a semifinal showdown that I correctly predicted in the BetUS.com Sportsbook.

For those who think the 22-year-old’s success may have been a fluke, I say think again. Tsonga’s conditioning has improved immensely over last season to the point where can now apparently withstand a five-set match as well as any player on tour.

While Tsonga has just a 26-17 career record, he is a solid 10-4 so far this season and his run at the 2008 Australian Open has lifted him to a career-high ranking of No. 17 in the world.

The thing I like most about Tsonga is the fact that he appears to have more ‘fire in his belly’ than either Gasquet or Monfils combined. With his confidence soaring – and his play improving to the point where he can routinely beat any of the world’s top 20 players – I think the sky is the limit for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Analysis: Though Tsonga doesn’t have any personal French Open odds up at the moment, I like him to go farther in this tournament than either of his fellow countrymen. To be totally honest about it, after watching his performance at this year’s Australian Open, I think it may be just a matter of time before Tsonga makes a grand slam breakthrough at someone’s expense.