Crack open the Pimms and dollop your strawberries with cream: Wimbledon is almost upon us.
This bastion of the English summer offers up plenty of excitement and intrigue in its fortnightly duration, and with Serena Williams’ crown as the queen of women’s tennis slipping there is plenty for punters to sink their teeth into as well.
Wimbledon Betting Tips
We cannot present a betting preview of the women’s draw of Wimbledon without starting with the world number one and top seed, Serena Williams. She may be getting on a bit in tennis terms these days, but Serena remains the standout force in the game.
She has only played in five tournaments this year as she seeks to prolong her career and minimise travelling around the globe, and yet her return is stellar: she has reached four finals, losing in two majors and to Victoria Azarenka at Indian Wells, before triumphing on the clay in Rome.
Also, she has lifted the trophy in three of her last five visits to SW19 (two Wimbledons and the Olympics of 2012), and so must not be discounted. But, and here’s the thing, her best price of 6/4 with Paddy Power is lacking in value when we consider that her success rate in finals this year is just 25%. Obviously Serena is a huge contender here, but perhaps one for punters to avoid.
One name well worth a mention in contrast is Garbine Muguruza. The Spaniard is only 22 and has already appeared in two Grand Slam finals: losing against Serena at Wimbledon last year, before securing her revenge – and the first major title of her career – at the French Open a couple of weeks ago.
Her game is clearly well suited to grass courts, and we can forgive a loss last time out in the WTA Mallorca event given she was perhaps suffering a metaphorical, if not literal, hangover from her Roland Garros adventure.
The number two seed also has the added bonus of avoiding Serena until the final, should they progress that far, so the 5/1 offered by bet365 on Muguruza to lift a second Grand Slam trophy is fantastic value.
Wimbledon Dark Horses
It is fair to say that the WTA Tour is in a state of flux at the moment, with a number of youthful prospects looking to challenge the old guard for supremacy.
But two of the ‘older’ players, at a positively ancient 27 and 28 apiece, are perhaps your best bets for longer price contenders. Since 2008, Agnieszka Radwanska has reached two quarter finals, two semis and a final of Wimbledon, and so clearly that record is of interest. She is 2-2 on grass this season though, and at 27 has only one title to her name. Perhaps her price of 25/1 with SkyBet is fair, then.
Angelique Kerber claimed the first major title of her career in Australia in January at the grand old age of 28, and while a loss of form just after was understandable a title win on the clay in Stuttgart is a handy reminder of her class.
The German is yet to really set SW19 alight, although a semi-final appearance in 2012 suggests that she has the game to do well here. Smart punters always follow those proven major winners, so at a generous 25/1 with William Hill plenty will get involved.
And a final word must go to Britain’s very own Johanna Konta, who made her breakthrough at the Australian Open in January. A last four appearance there has set up her season nicely, and most recently a run to the semis on the grass of Eastbourne – where she beat the likes of Petra Kvitova on the way – is eye-catching. At 75/1 with Stan James, an each way punt is certainly appealing.
Recommend Bets
Muguruza @ 5/1 with Bet365
Kerber @ 25/1 with William Hill
