Four outsiders to deny ‘big four’ from winning men’s singles French Open

Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | May 19, 2016

The 2016 French Open kicks off on Sunday, May 22nd, with most of the top names confirmed to take part in the men’s singles, but Coral pick out four outsiders to claim the title.

Stars such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and defending champion Stan Wawrinka have shown vulnerability in recent weeks, while Roger Federer has pulled out, so are the ‘big four’ (or five) set to falter at Roland Garros?

Due to clay courts being far different in style to hard and grass, the unpredictable surface has the potential to conjure up a new winner or finalist, as has happened many times in the past.

So, read on to find out our temptingly priced picks for the title, or even to reach the final (going each-way on places 1 and 2 pays out half the odds).

Kei Nishikori

Japanese star Nishikori, 26, has already reached a Grand Slam final after losing to Marin Cilic in the 2014 US Open, and is a brilliant 18/1 shout to go one better at the French Open.

The world number six has certainly showed promising form of late, reaching at least the semis in each of the last four tournaments on tour – the previous three of which were on clay.

Nishikori only lost out to Djokovic and Nadal in those events, and came so close to shocking the former in the Rome Masters semis.