Advertisement

French Open: How to watch, odds, key storylines

The 2022 French Open starts this weekend, beginning two straight weeks of tennis, tennis, and more tennis. If you're looking for information like the schedule, odds for women and men, and broadcast and streaming info, you can find all that and more below.

When does the French Open start?

Round 1 of the 2022 French Open kicks off on Sunday, May 22, and will last for three days. Matches typically start sometime in the morning in Paris, which will be around 2-4am on the East Coast. Round 2 will be played on Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26, with Round 3 following on Friday, May 27 and Saturday, May 28. Round 4 will be played on Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30.

After the first four rounds are complete, the field of 128 women and 128 men will have been cut down to just 8 women and 8 men. They will all compete in the quarterfinals, which take place on Tuesday, May 31 and Wednesday, June 1. From there, the women's and men's matches will take place on alternating days. The women's semifinal is Thursday, June 2, and the men's semis will follow the very next day.

The women's French Open final will be played on Saturday, June 4, and the men's final will be played on Sunday, June 5.

Who are the players to watch at the French Open?

Novak Djokovic is trying to get back on track after being kicked out of Australia in Jan. due to his decision to remain unvaccinated. A win at Roland Garros would be his 21st Grand Slam title, tying him with Rafael Nadal for the most all time.

Nadal, the King of Clay, has won the French Open 13 times, a record that's likely to stand for many, many years. But this year he's been dealing with a rib injury, and along with his degenerative foot disease and 15 years of wear and tear, he appears to be slowing down. Does Nadal have one more French Open victory left in him?

Iga Swiatek has won five straight titles coming into Roland Garros. She won the French Open back in 2020, and has her eye on a second title. She's been dominating women's tennis since February and is the clear favorite to win in Paris.

Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Madrid Open - Caja Magica, Madrid, Spain - May 8, 2022  Spain's Carlos Alcaraz Garfia celebrates after winning the final against Germany's Alexander Zverev. He aims to win the French Open next REUTERS/Juan Medina
The French Open is where 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz could claim his first Grand Slam title. (REUTERS/Juan Medina)

Carlos Alcaraz is still a teenager but yet managed to beat both Nadal and Djokovic on clay in back-to-back matches at the Madrid Open, which he went on to win. That was his fourth title this year, more than anyone else on the men's tour. He's the future of tennis, but the French Open could be an opportunity to cement himself as a top tier competitor.

Naomi Osaka is returning to the French Open one year after she started a worldwide conversation about athletes' mental health. She pulled out of the tournament in 2021 when organizers would not allow her to skip all her media obligations, which had routinely made her anxious. She's taken a tumble in the rankings, but is starting to climb her way back up.

Who has the best odds of winning the 2022 French Open?

For the first time in awhile, there isn't a clear men's favorite coming into a Grand Slam. Novak Djokovic was the overwhelming pick during all of last year's Grand Slams, but this year he's joined by a talented teenager who has already beat him in a semifinal match on clay: 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz.

  • Novak Djokovic (+200)

  • Carlos Alcaraz (+225)

  • Rafael Nadal (+400)

  • Stefanos Tsitsipas (+450)

  • Alexander Zverev (+2000)

As for the women, there's a favorite for the first time in awhile. The women's field has been wide open for the last few years, with no single player stepping up and dominating the women's tour. But Iga Swiatek has become that player in 2022, winning five straight titles leading into the French Open.

  • Iga Swiatek (-110)

  • Simona Halep (+1200)

  • Ons Jabeur (+1200)

  • Paula Badosa (+2000)

  • Maria Sakkari (+2000)

Here are the complete odds for men and women, courtesy of BetMGM.

How to watch the French Open

NBC and the Tennis Channel have the rights to broadcast the French Open in 2022. Some matches will be broadcast on NBC and available on Peacock, NBC's streaming service, but the vast majority of first, second and third round matches will be broadcast on the Tennis Channel, which can also be viewed online through your cable provider.

The first three rounds will largely be broadcast by the Tennis Channel, with NBC stepping in for Round 4, the semifinals, and the finals.

The full streaming schedule is available here.