Multi bet selections for 2017 French Open quarter finals

IT is business time now in the singles draws of the 2017 French Open.

With seven of the top eight seeds still kicking, the men’s competition could hardly be any stronger.

The odd man out is Milos Raonic, who was dumped by 20th seed Pablo Carreno Busta over five sets in the round of 16.

The Spanish bolter faces an altogether tougher task next up in fellow countryman Rafael Nadal – Sportsbet.com.au’s -200 favourite for the title.

World number one Andy Murray has Kei Nishikori to deal with, Novak Djokovic has a tricky test against Dominic Thiem, and Stan Wawrinka will resume hostilities with Marin Cilic.

As ever, things are much more open in the women’s draw.

The bookies like Simona Halep, who is paying +125 to break her Grand Slam duck with a maiden win at Roland Garros.

She faces fifth-seed Elina Svitolina in the quarters, while Karolina Pliskova – one of only three remaining contenders from the top 10 seeds – takes on French hope Caroline Garcia.

Novak Djokovic to defeat Dominic Thiem – -204.08

Stan Wawrinka to defeat Marin Cilic – -238.1

Karolina Pliskova to defeat Caroline Garcia – -172.41

Elina Svitolina to defeat Simona Halep – +227

Multi pays +993 at Sportsbet.com.au

Novak Djokovic (2) vs. Dominic Thiem (6)

From 11:15pm AEST Tuesday, June 6, 2017

It has been a funny old year for the ‘Djoker’. After winning in Doha at the very beginning of 2017, the Serb did not reach another final until the Rome Masters last month. He beat Dominic Thiem in the semis of that tournament. The Austrian has shown excellent form this clay season, with only Rafa Nadal standing between him and the title at both the Barcelona and Madrid. But he has never beaten Novak, and we think it will stay that way.

Stan Wawrinka (3) vs. Marin Cilic (7)

From 10pm AEST Wednesday, June 7, 2017

So ordinary was Stan’s form coming into Roland Garros, he decided to squeeze in an extra hit after his early exit at Rome. He found his groove against a middling field in Geneva and brought it to Paris, where he is yet to drop a set in 2017. Cilic can boast the same stat, albeit helped by Kevin Anderson’s retirement last round. Both are good clay players, but a head-to-head record of 11-2 to Wawrinka makes this an easy call.

Karolina Pliskova (2) vs. Caroline Garcia (28)

From 10pm AEST Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Pliskova is yet to deliver on the hype that swelled after her run to the US Open final last year. This is as far as the 25-year-old Czech has ever gone at Roland Garros, and she could hardly have hoped for a better opportunity with Serena Williams absent and so many top seeds already out. Garcia won when these two met on clay in Madrid two years ago, but we are backing Pliskova to take that extra step.

Simona Halep (3) vs. Elina Svitolina (5)

From 10pm AEST Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Halep has not put a foot wrong at French Open 2017. Her 6-1, 6-1 dismissal of Carla Suarez Navarro in the round of 16 showcased a player whose eyes are firmly fixed on the big prize. While punters love her, the Romanian faces a tough task next up in Svitolina. It was she who beat Halep in the Rome Masters final last month, and the +227 quote for the 22-year-old Ukrainian to back it up is too good to ignore.