Two in a row too much for Nadal?

Rafael Nadal delivered exactly what shrewd observers had been expecting on Sunday when he won the French Open at the first time of asking, with a fabulous four-set victory over Mariano Puerta at Roland Garros rewarding those who backed him as the 5/2 favourite (3.50).

The 19-year-old Spaniard looks set to be the man to beat at the French Open over the next few years, but with Wimbledon just a fortnight away, it should be noted that Nadal has said in the past that winning the Wimbledon title would be the pinnacle of his career.

The bookies are taking no chances that he will win back-to-back grand-slam titles, either, with Nadal installed at 10/1 for the title. Two-time defending champion Roger Federer is the 8/15 (1.53) favourite. Last year's runner-up Andy Roddick is a 9/2 chance (5.50), while Lleyton Hewitt is 9/1 (10.00). Tim Henman, four-times a semi-finalist at Wimbledon, is 12/1 (13.00).

The portents toward a Nadal victory are not particularly good. Not since Bjorn Borg in 1980 has any man won the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year, but don't be too quick to write him off. He reached the third round on his debut two years ago and missed last year's event through injury. In 1985, a 17-year-old Boris Becker, who'd reached the third round on his only previous appearance the year before, went all the way and won the title.

In contrast, the French Open women's champion, Justine Henin-Hardenne, is only the joint second favourite for the women's event, at 3/1 (4.00). The Belgian was runner-up in 2001, but is not traditionally at her best on grass. Defending champion Maria Sharapova is also a 3/1 (4.00) chance, while Serena Williams, the champion in 2002 and 2003, is a narrow favourite at 11/4 (3.75). The American missed the French Open with an ankle injury.

Kim Clijsters is a 5/1 (6.00) chance, while two former champions are next in the betting. Venus Williams is 8/1 (9.00) while Lindsay Davenport, the world number one, is a 9/1 (10.00) bet.