Wimbledon Tennis Betting - Bet on the 2008 Wimbledon Tennis Tournament
June 17, 2008
WIMBLEDON TENNIS BETTING - BET ON THE 2008 WIMBLEDON TENNIS
Will a Brit win Wimbledon?
British Men Wimbledon Betting
British number one, and world number eleven, Andy Murray insisted that withdrawing from the Artois championships was the correct decision. Due to play Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals, he was anxious to preserve his prospects of playing at Wimbledon. He missed last year’s Championships with a wrist injury, but is confident that the thumb injury incurred in his 3rd round win over Ernest Gulbis will not affect his prospects for this year. In the Wimbledon tennis betting, Murray is a best-priced 33/1 with sportingbet. Betfair’s 54/1 is a better reflection of his chances, but even that makes no appeal. Murray will be joined in the men’s singles by Aleksa Bogdanovic, ranked 271 in the world. Bogdanovic is Serbian by birth, but now represents Britain. He was awarded a “wildcard” entry to the men’s singles. The Wimbledon bookmakers do not rate his chances, being a best-priced 5000/1 with skybet. Jamie Murray has been denied a “wildcard” entry to the singles event.
British Ladies Wimbledon Betting
British number one, Anne Keothavong became the first British female player to automatically qualify for Wimbledon since 1999, by virtue of a straight sets win over in Lebanon. She will be joined by Katie O’Brien, Elena Baltacha, Naomi Cavaday and Melanie South, all of whom have received “wildcard” entries to the ladies singles. The prospect of a British winner is, at best, remote.
Wimbledon Men’s Singles Betting
For those wishing to bet on the Wimbledon 2008 tennis, the Men’s Singles appears the most straightforward event to solve. Finalists for the past two years, five times winner Roger Federer (5/4 with Ladbrokes) and Spaniard Rafael Nadal (9/4 with Blue Square, Paddy Power and totesport) seem certain to be seeded at 1 and 2. Last year’s losing semi-finalist Novak Djokovic (4/1 with Ladbrokes and totesport) is the likely third seed, with American Andy Roddick (25/1 with 888sport and vcbet) a fair bet for fourth spot.
It is difficult to foresee Federer, Nadal and Djokovic failing to make the semi-finals. Djokovic will play Nadal, and with his lack of experience of grass seems likely to be blown away by the in-form Spaniard. On a “going” day, Federer will beat anyone on grass, so another Federer v Nadal final seems on the cards. At this stage, the going becomes rather tougher. Federer’s form has been somewhat “in and out” throughout 2008. As a result, having been odds-on favourite in the Wimbledon tennis betting for a considerable time, he has now eased to a shade of odds-against with the Wimbledon bookmakers. Contrastingly, Rafael Nadal’s 2008 form has been excellent, thrashing Federer at Roland Garros and disposing of Novak Djokovic in the Artois Championships on grass. Punters seeking to bet on the Wimbledon 2008 tennis have caused Nadal to shorten from 5/1 in the Wimbledon tennis betting, including one bet of £20,000. If an in-form Roger Federer turns up for the final, 5/4 may look generous. However, if he has an “off” day, Nadal, whose grass court form has been steadily improving over the last couple of seasons, and goes into Wimbledon with his confidence at an all-time high, will be all to pleased too spoil Federer’s record-breaking bid.
The sensible play seems to be to back Federer at the start of the tournament. In the event of a Federer / Nadal final, there should be sufficient margin to at least “save” on the Spaniard.
Wimbledon Ladies Singles Betting
Wimbledon tennis betting on the Ladies’ Singles is far trickier. The Wimbledon bookmakers have Maria Sharapova as favourite (9/4 with 888sport and Blue Square). Based on her mixed form in 2008, this seems too short and makes no appeal. Serena Williams is next best at 5/2 with Stan James, with elder sister Venus (the reigning champion) at 5/1 with Paddy Power. Both have performed consistently well at Wimbledon and must make the shortlist.
Recent French Open winner, Serbian Ana Ivanovic (5/1 with skybet) along with compatriot Jelena Jankovic (a generous looking 14/1 with Ladbrokes, despite losing to Ivanovic at Roland Garros) are other leading contenders. The difficulty for those wishing to bet on the Wimbledon 2008 tennis is that all of the above players are capable of beating each other. At 5/1 and 14/1 respectively with the Wimbledon bookmakers, the Serbian women are suggested as tentative selections for the Ladies’ Singles Championship.
Wimbledon Doubles Betting
Men’s
Men’s doubles matches are played over five sets and have provided some excellent encounters over the years. The best known doubles player in recent years is Australian Todd Woodbridge, who won the doubles title 9 times between 1993 and 2004 with a selection of partners. Reigning champions are the French pairing of Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra.
Ladies / Mixed
The Ladies Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles were introduced to the tournament in 1913 with both played over three sets. Unlike the men’s doubles event, many of the women’s singles champions have performed well in the ladies doubles, with the likes of Martin Navratilova and both Venus and Serena Williams claiming both titles in the same year. Reigning Ladies Doubles Champions are Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Liezel Huber of South Africa. Reigning Mixed Doubles Champions Jamie Murray and Jelena Jankovic will not be defending their title in 2008 as Jankovic has chosen to focus solely on her challenge for the Ladies’ Singles Championship.
All three doubles titles always prove popular amongst the spectators. The benefit of the doubles events is that they offer many lesser players, unable to compete in the latter stages of the singles events, the opportunity of winning a Wimbledon trophy.
Betting on tennis has been made far easier through the availability of online betting sites, which allow punters to place their bets from the comfort of their home, before watching the action unfold.
All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds
Tennis Betting: Who’s going to win Wimbledon?
June 15, 2008
WHO WILL WIN WIMBLEDON?
Men’s Singles
Always an exciting tournament, the 2008 men’s singles Championships could potentially be the most memorable in recent years.
Roger Federer was last beaten on the grass courts of the All England Club by Mario Ancic in the first round of the 2002 Championships. Subsequently, he has been undefeated in 35 Wimbledon matches, the score being
102 - 8 in sets and 671 - 394 in games. This remarkable run of success has brought Federer to the brink of a record sixth consecutive title. However, though apparently unstoppable at Wimbledon, Federer has had a disappointing 2008, suffering unexpected defeats at the hands of Andy Murray, Mardy Fish, Andy Roddick and Radek Stepanek. As a result, he has eased considerably in the Wimbledon tennis betting, now a best-priced 5/4 with Ladbrokes, having trading at odds-on for a considerable period.
Spaniard Rafael Nadal must be considered the greatest threat to Federer’s continued dominance of the Wimbledon Championships. The beaten finalist for the last two years, Nadal thrives on his rivalry with Federer and appears to be closing the gap between them on grass courts. Nadal came close to breaking Federer’s grass court stranglehold last year, and will go into this year’s Championships with his confidence at a high, following his demolition (granted on clay) in the French Open at Roland Garros. He has attracted substantial interest with bookmakers offering tennis betting online, Ladbrokes having laid a bet of £20,000 at 5/1 about Nadal winning at Wimbledon. His Wimbledon betting odds have been shortening for some time and he now trades at a best-priced 12/5 with 888sport. World number two, Nadal demonstrated the well-being of his grass court game by coming from behind to beat Serbian Novak Djokovic in the final of the Artois Championships. However, seemingly not wishing to be outdone, Federer was winning, virtually at the same time, in Halle, Germany for the fifth time in his career.
Although Rafael Nadal is the main danger to Federer, there are one or two other players which it would be unwise to dismiss when considering who will win Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic of Serbia has beaten Federer twice in the last 12 months. He is evidently not unfancied in some quarters, his Wimbledon betting odds being only a best-priced 4/1 with totesport. However, Djokovic lacks experience on grass, and having played in only 3 Wimbledon Championships, at the tender age of 21 may lack the experience to lift the title. American Andy Roddick, having been sidelined with back / shoulder injuries, put up an excellent performance in the Artois Championships on his return, only losing out to Rafael Nadal in the semi-final. He will arrive at Wimbledon in good form, and at 25/1 with vcbet is a “working man’s” price in the Wimbledon tennis betting.
Briton Andy Murray has proved he can win tournaments, two in 2008, has proved he can beat the best, leading Roger Federer 2-1 in head-to head matches. Grass is his best surface and he has home advantage. He is 5th best in the Wimbledon tennis betting at a best-priced 33/1 with sportingbet. Theoretically, he must have a chance of winning. However, his position in the Wimbledon betting odds is probably a result of the hype that inevitably surrounds any British player with even an outside chance of winning. It requires a great (too great) leap of faith to foresee Murray troubling the “big boys.”
In summary, the answer to the opening question of “Who will win Wimbledon?” is Roger Federer. With a chance to rewrite the tennis history books, he should not be underestimated.
Ladies’ Singles
Having hopefully found the answer to half of “Who will win Wimbledon?” attention turns to the Ladies’ event. The Ladies’ Singles Championship appears to be a pretty open event, compounded by the recent retirement of world number one Justine Henin.
No long ago, the consensus in tennis circles was that Serena and Venus Williams lacked to sufficient focus to be champions. However, the Williams sisters have an uncanny knack of proving the “experts” wrong. Venus has four Wimbledon titles to prove the point, and is the reigning champion. Given her form preceding the 2007 renewal, her seeding of 23 looked over generous. The 2007 ladies champion surely had to come from the quarter-final involving Justine Henin and sister Serena. Venus blindsided everybody, blowing away world number two Maria Sharapova in her last 16 match. She became the lowest ranked player and lowest seed to lift the Rosewater Dish, breaking her own record of two years previously when seeded 14. Venus and Serena always seem to produce the most when observers expect the least. It was only last year that Serena went into the Australian Open ranked the world number 81. Nonetheless she stormed to the title, her eighth career Grand Slam victory, wiping out Sharapova in the final. At the respective ages of 28 and 26, Venus and Serena arrive at Wimbledon ranked six and seven in the world. The Wimbledon betting odds have Serena at a best-priced 3/1 with Ladbrokes, while the pick of the tennis betting online prices regarding Venus is skybet’s 5/1. It may prove perilous to dismiss either.
2004 Champion Maria Sharapova has opted to change her schedule in the run-up to Wimbledon 2008. She has decided to miss her usual warm-up tournament in Birmingham and focus solely on Wimbledon. Though beaten in the 4th round last year, Sharapova has plenty of Wimbledon experience and is favourite in the Wimbledon tennis betting for the Ladies’ Singles Championship at a best priced 9/4 with 888sport.
2008’s most heart-warming, newsworthy tennis story is rise of the sport in Serbia, a troubled nation that has found welcome relief in Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic. Ana Ivanovic’s recent success at Roland Garros made her Serbia’s first female singles champion, defeating Jankovic in the semi-final. Both women are prominent in the Wimbledon tennis betting, which neither could have dreamed of a few years ago. The Balkans conflict took a heavy toll on Serbia and tennis facilities in the country were laughably pathetic. Despite, or possibly because of this, Jankovic, 23, and Ivanovic, 20, have come through to the top of the women’s game, matured by the severity of those early years. Jankovic came close to giving up tennis in the spring of 2006 when she lost in the first round of nine out of ten tournaments. However, defeating defending champion Venus Williams at Wimbledon caused a rapid change of mind. She subsequently won 4 titles in 2007, including on grass at Birmingham and Wimbledon’s Mixed Doubles. Tennis betting online has Jelena Jankovic at a best-priced 14/1 with totesport.
Dan Holzman, a Swiss businessman, heard of Ana Ivanovic’s youthful promise and organised her resettlement in Basle, along with an interest-free £250,000 (long since repaid) loan to help set up her career. A delighted Holzman was in Paris to watch the progress of his investment as Ivanovic won her first Grand Slam final on her third attempt. Twelve months previously, Ivanovic had been consumed by nerves in the French Open final as Justine Henin thrashed her 6-1 6-2. The same happened at the 2007 Australian Open, where she finished runner-up to Maria Sharapova. However, she got it right at the third time of asking, beating Dinara Safina 6-4 6-3 at Roland Garros. Wimbledon betting odds have Ana Ivanovic at a best-priced 5/1 with totesport.
“Who will win Wimbledon?” is particularly tricky with regard to the ladies’ event. The top three ranked players, namely Sharapova, Ivanovic and Jankovic are all capable of beating each other, depending on what day it is. Adding the Williams sisters to the mix muddies the water even further. Additionally, former champions Lindsay Davenport (33/1 with Bet365) and Amelie Mauresmo (80/1 with Boylesports) are also lurking.
Your correspondent suggests a small interest in the vastly overpriced Jelena Jankovic at 14/1 with totesport, of which he has already availed himself. 80/1 is far too big for Amelie Mauresmo, so a sentimental couple of bob has been invested.
All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds
Tennis: The Artois Championships Betting news
June 9, 2008
TENNIS - THE ARTOIS CHAMPIONSHIPS - June 9th
The Queen’s Club Championships is an annual tournament for male tennis players, held on grass courts at the Queen’s Club in West Kensington, London. The event is an International Series tournament on Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour. Its sponsored name is currently the Artois Championships. The Queen’s Club Championships are held every year in June in the week after the French Open. The Artois Championships celebrates its 30th birthday in 2008 with a typically strong field of players.
The inaugural tournament took place in 1979, in which John McEnroe won the first of his four singles titles. The roll of honour features many of the sport’s most famous names. McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras and Lleyton Hewitt have all held the Artois and Wimbledon winners’ trophies aloft in the same year. McEnroe reached the Queen’s Club final in each of the tournament’s first six years, and on five of those occasions he went on to reach the Wimbledon final.
British teenager Dan Evans has been given a great chance to test himself against the world’s best players having being awarded the final wild card into The Artois Championships. Evans, who broke into the World’s Top Ten in the junior rankings in January of this year, will be making his full ATP debut when he plays his first round match. As a junior, Evans has reached the quarter-finals of the US and Australian Opens, and in recent weeks he has made the last eight at two “futures” tournaments. The 18-year-old from Birmingham will join a star-studded field which includes the World No.2 Rafael Nadal, the Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, along with four-time Artois champions Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick. The other four wild cards have been awarded to former Wimbledon semi-finalists Jonas Bjorkman, Xavier Malisse and British pair Alex Bogdanovic and Josh Goodall. British No.1, Andy Murray has withdrawn to rest a wrist injury and attempt to be fit for Wimbledon.
Tennis Artois Championship Betting
Novak Djokovic - 5/2 (Bet 365)
Rafael Nadal - 9/2 (Ladbrokes)
Andy Roddick - 6/1 (VC Bet)
Andy Murray - 8/1 (888sport)
Mario Ancic - 14/1 (Bet 365)
All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds
French Open: Mens Semi Report - Womens Final Preview
June 7, 2008
The upshot of yesterday’s play at the French Open is that we see another men’s final with Federer and Nadal in it. This will make it number four in a series of French Open finals.
Men’s Semis at the French Open
Rafael Nadal beat off Navak Djokovic 6-4 6-2 7-6 (7-3) to secure hi splace in the final. At times, Nadal must have thought he was the only player on the court as he dominated the match so much. It looked as though he could pick any place on the court to hit the ball, and there it weent, brilliant.
Federer on the other hand didn’t have quite an easy time of it as Nadal had. Which seems to be how he has found most of his matches in this tournament. It all started well enough as he ploughed through the first set. We can’t be sure what happened in the second set as Monfils managed to even teh score by winning the set. The third set is where Federer regained his focus and took that one. Unfortunately for Monfils, he couldn’t complete on any of the six break points he had in the fourth set and Federer capitalised and took the last set. The final scorecard for the match ended: 6-2 5-7 6-3 7-5.
The Women’s Final of the French Open
We are to look forward to a gripping match this afternoon between 13th Seed Dinara Safina and number two seed Ana Ivanovic. Safina was unlikely to have ever been in the final, and her tennis hasn’t been up to scratch at times to even be worthy to be in the final. Her sheer determination at crucial points in her matches has allowed her to beat her opposition to secure her this place.
Ivanovic is the obvious favourite to win this title, one she has failed to get twice before. As the newly appointed number one seed, she has alot of pressure on her to win too, maybe it’s going to be too much for her allowing Safina to win?
For those of you who’d like to place a bet on the women’s final, you can currently get 4/9 with Stan James on Ivanovic; or if your favoured player is Safina to win you can currently get odds of 2/1 from Paddy Power.
These odds are correct at the time of writing, please check the table below for the current best odds:
This match is available on BBC2 at 2pm.
Tennis French Open: Thursdays Results and Todays Preview
June 6, 2008
Well I said that Safina would have to dig deep if she wanted to beat Kuznetsova, and boy did she did deep. I’m talking about yesterday’s French Open semi final; up to now, Safina has held onto her position in the tournament only after making sensational comebacks from near defeat. Yesterday however, she really found the focus she had saved for crucial times in her games, and played brilliantly throughout.
Kuznetsova never really had a chance, Safina was unstoppable as she beat Kuznetsova 6-3 6-2.
Mean while the Serbians match was fought really hard by both players. In the final set it seemed all over for Ivanovic, as she was a break down, however fought back and brought the game to a thrilling climax and ended up beating Jankovic 4-6 6-3 4-6.
The final is promising to be a real corker, with Ivanovic looking to put an end to Safina’s incredible run. After the final there will be new Grand Slam Champion, and a new world number one.
Today at the French Open
There’s another exciting day ahead of us at the French Open as the men play out their semi finals. We will be watching as Federer plays Monfils and Djokovic plays Nadal.
Federer who may have finally settled into playing on clay after beating Gonzalez on Wednesday is taking on Monfils who dispatched Ferrer from the competition. Federer is a far superior player than Monfils, however at this late stage in the competition, should not expect an easy ride.
The bookies are of course favouring Federer with best odds of 1/10 for a Federer win (available from William Hill), against 7/1 from Sporting Bet on a Monfils victory.
The odds between the other two players in the semi finals today are a little less wide. Nadal as you might expect is the favourite with odds of 1/5 available from many bookies including VC Bet. Whereas Stan James is offering 4/1 on Djokovic to win this match.
All odds quoted in this article were correct at the time of writing. Check the page: Best odds on French Open for the latest odds available on the French Open.
