Novak Djokovic stands undisputed as the best player in men’s tennis. But that’s not the same as being the best golfer in the world, or the best surfer or sprinter. Because tennis moves from surface to surface — hard court to clay to grass and back. And different players thrive with different substances underfoot. With his feet on the crushed red brick at Roland Garros, Djokovic has never kissed the French Open trophy — despite making easy work of the other three Slams, with multiple victories in each. But Stan Wawrinka has kissed the trophy. Just last year.
Wawrinka, ranked World No. 4, looks very strong in defense of his crown, too. An agile and expert clay courter, Wawrinka came to this year’s French Open seeded third, despite being champion. But no one through the quarterfinals looks more poised for victory than the second best Swiss player on Tour — Stan the man. Wawrinka dominated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2, 6-1, 7-6. As the bookies have it, Djokovic remains the odds-on favorite to win at 4/9. But Wawrinka has moved to 11/2 odds to take his second straight French Open.
_(14239182300).jpg){kind=link}