French Open third round: Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova in action

Friday sees the start of third round action at the French Open in both the men’s and ladies’ singles draws.

Grand Slam great Roger Federer, 15/2 third-favourite behind Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal for the title, is the headline attractions in the former section. Defending women’s champion Maria Sharapova, meanwhile, faces an enthralling encounter with Sam Stosur.

Facing Swiss sensation Federer is Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur, who encounters the 2009 French Open champion for the first time. At 1/100 to defeat this relative unknown, odds-on favourite hardly does Federer justice, but you can substantially better that by backing him to win in straight sets at 1/8.

Japanese tennis ace and fifth seed Kei Nishikori meets German veteran Benjamin Becker (a 12/1 match outsider), but their head-to-heads are tied at two victories apiece. Punters should be aware that this Becker, unlike Boris, has never been past this stage of the French Open.

Nishikori, meanwhile, is the Far East’s rising star of this sport, and is a strong odds-on 1/50 match favourite. Like Federer, you can improve on that by taking 1/6 on the seed to win without dropping a set.

Swiss number two and ninth seed Stan Wawrinka is set to face the USA’s Steve Johnson in their first-ever fixture. Having gone the distance at the Australian Open in 2014, Wawrinka is a worthy odds-on 1/10 match favourite against this Californian court surfer. It’s 4/9 Johnson succumbs in straight sets.

Sharapova, 11/4 to defend her ladies’ title at Roland Garros, has a 100 per cent success rate against Australia’s Stosur on clay, and that makes the Russian racket star a deserved favourite for their latest meeting at 2/9.