Which Tennis Stars Will Serve Up A Treat at Wimbledon 2018?

At the time of writing, many of the players outside of the major ranking positions in the world are battling through a number of different qualifying events taking place around the UK. Their aim, is a chance to enter the First Round Draw of the third Grand Slam tournament of the year. Wimbledon 2018, which begins on Monday 2^nd July at the famous All England Club in southwest London.

While for these players, getting into the main draw would represent something of an achievement, for the best in the world, they have their sights set on loftier ambitions, including winning the coveted Wimbledon title, one of just four Grand Slam events available each season on both the male and female tours.

This year’s tournament will be the 132^nd contested and the defending champions are Roger Federer in the men’s and Garbine Muguruza in the women’s.  Players are expected to wear white when playing at Wimbledon and should the Queen or the Prince of Wales be present in the Royal Box during the tournament, players are expected to bow or curtsy as they make their way to and from court. Wimbledon is famous for its many quirks and eccentricities (last year, patrons at the championships ate their way through 34,000 kilograms of strawberries and 11,000 litres of cream).

Like other Grand Slams, male and female players now receive the same prize money for the tournament with the winning male and female players each earning a prize of £2,200,000.

As always, Wimbledon will draw plenty of excited interest from punters eager for a flutter on the men’s or women’s championships, so who will come out on top and who are the players to back at the best available odds, which we have taken directly from bet365 Sport?

Let’s take a quick preview of both the male and female events and give you our tips for who to back in each.

Men’s Tournament – Data

Wimbledon Champions – Men (2000 – onwards)

Most Number of Wimbledon Victories – Roger Federer (Switzerland) – 8 titles (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017)

Current Men’s ATP Top 10 Rankings

1. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
2. Rafael Nadal (Spain)
3. Alexander Zverev (Germany)
4. Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina)
5. Georgi Dimitrov (Bulgaria)
6. Marin Cilic (Croatia)
7. Dominic Thiem (Austria)
8. Kevin Anderson (South Africa)
9. David Goffin (Belgium)
10. John Isner (USA)

Please note that these may not be the same as the seedings used at Wimbledon to determine the top 32 players.

Bet365’s betting odds for the Men’s Championship

• Roger Federer – 7/4 fav
• Novak Djokovic – 9/2
• Rafael Nadal, Marin Cilic – 7/1
• Andy Murray – 12/1
• Alexander Zverev – 14/1
• Nick Kyrgios – 16/1
• Milos Raonic – 18/1
• Juan Martin del Potro – 20/1
• Grigor Dimitrov – 25/1
• 33/1 bar.

Who is a strong each way bet?

Solid serve and volley specialists have done well at Wimbledon over the years with Milos Raonic (2016) and Marin Cilic (2017) reaching the final. However I think this year, the big-hitting Argentinean Juan Martin del Potro at 20/1 is the best outside bet. Few players serve or hit the ball as hard and he has rediscovered some real form this season after a lengthy spell with niggling injuries. He should go far this year.

Who should I back to win the Men’s Championship at Wimbledon 2018?

Although it is somewhat predictable given his short odds, I think you have to consider Roger Federer as far and away the leading contender in the male tournament this year. Last year, the Swiss legend won his eighth Wimbledon title and he looked as good as he has ever been, not dropping a single set in landing his victory (becoming only the second male player ever to achieve that feat, the first being Bjorn Borg in 1976).

Having rested once again during the French Open and clay court season, he will be in peak physical fitness ahead of Wimbledon once again, which cannot be said for the likes of his main threats, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray whose fitness, or ability on grass, is lesser than that of Federer.  At the moment Federer is 7/4 to win with bet365, but I think those odds will shorten markedly as the tournament progresses so now may be the best time to back him.

Women’s Tournament – Data

Wimbledon Champions  – Women (2000 – onwards)

Record Number of Titles – Martina Navratilova (United States) – 9 victories (1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 195, 1986, 1987, 1990)

Navratilova holds the record of 20 Singles and Doubles titles at Wimbledon jointly with Billie Jean King, also of the United States.

Women’s WTA Top 10 Rankings

1. Simone Halep (Romania)
2. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)
3. Garbine Muguruza (Spain)
4. Sloane Stephens (USA)
5. Elena Svitolina (Ukraine)
6. Caroline Garcia (France)
7. Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic)
8. Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic)
9. Venus Williams (USA)
10. Madison Keys (USA)

Wimbledon tournament seedings may be different to the current World Rankings.

Current Betting Odds for the Women’s Championship (with bet365)

• Petra Kvitova – 4/1 fav
• Serena Williams – 11/2
• Garbine Muguruza – 7/1
• Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, Sloane Stephens – 12/1
• Karolina Pliskova, Maria Sharapova, Madison Keys – 14/1
• Elina Svitolina – 20/1
• Caroline Wozniacki, Johanna Konta, Ashleigh Barty – 22/1
• Venus Williams, Magdalena Rybarikova – 25/1
• 28/1 bar.

Who is a strong each way bet?

I think the each way bet is a smart move in the Women’s tournament given how open it is and as a Brit, I would like to think that Johanna Konta’s semi-final appearance last year wasn’t a one off. Konta’s not had the best season so far, but her form has improved a little of late and she does seem inspired on the grass courts at Wimbledon. At 22/1, I think she’s a good value each way punt.

Who should I back to win the Women’s Championship at Wimbledon?

Like most of the big women’s events in tennis in recent times, this could be one of the most open Wimbledon’s in many years with not one particular player as the clear favourite. Simona Halep did win the French Open of late, but her game is not well suited to grass and that tends to give the bigger servers, such as Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova an advantage.

Kvitova is the bookmakers favourite, but I have a feeling that Serena Williams will fancy her chances here. Grass is a better surface for her than clay and she did perform well at the French Open. Much depends on if the American is seeded, or of she is not, how her draw looks, but she has the talent to claim the title here, if she can stand the pace over the two weeks.