The grass season is upon us, as tennis fans prepare for the second-last grand slam of the season.
Wimbledon 2018 kicks off with the first round of singles on July 2, with the two week tournament concluding on July 15.
After skipping the clay-court season, Roger Federer enters as the early men’s favourite, while reigning women’s singles champion Gabrine Muguruza comes in as a slight outsider to defend her title.
We have analysed both the Men’s and Women’s Singles draw and you can find our 2018 Wimbledon Tips below!
Men’s Singles
Roger Federer’s break over May/June places him on the first line of betting at slim odds ($2.75), but there’s a case to be made for Novak Djokovic ($6.50), French Open winner Rafael Nadal ($7.50) and Marin Cilic ($8.00).
Alongside Andy Murray, Aussie Nick Kyrgios has fallen out of single-digit figures, and finds himself as an outside chance at $15.00.
Men’s Singles Best Bet
Tip: Marin Cilic ($8.00)
So Federer is probably your best bet, but at $2.75, that’s just a little too safe. If you’re looking for value, Cilic’s form screams a deep run at Wimbledon once again, and if you consider Rafael Nadal, John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Pete Sampras have all gone on to win Wimbledon glory a fortnight after lifting the trophy at The Queen’s Club Championships, suddenly this doesn’t look like a bad bet at all.
Cilic will arrive in London on the back of a resilient three-set win over Novak Djokovic last Sunday, and if for some reason Federer finds himself out of the final at Wimbledon, Cilic may very well be the favourite to capture the title. He’s already beaten the likes of Kyrgios and Juan Martin Del Potro recently, and if he does indeed meet Federer in the final for the second straight year, at least he’ll receive his first bite at the revenge cherry.
Men’s Singles Best Value
Tip: Rafael Nadal ($8.00)
With two titles already to his name, the king of clay is always a favourite to claim Wimbledon. Rafa has been practicing for the last two months for this event, and given just how impressive Nadal was at Roland Garros, he’s certainly found form at the right time. We’ve seen Rafa struggle on the grass, though, bowing out in the fourth round last year. His 32-year old knees aren’t always up to the challenge of the grass, but in what could be his last chance to claim a third Wimbledon title, you can never write the Spaniard off.
Men’s Singles Best Roughie
Tip: Nick Kyrgios ($15.00)
There was no shame in Kyrgios’ loss to Cilic in the semi-final of the Queen’s Club last week. It was a fantastic two-set battle between two of the world’s elites, and at $15 odds ahead of Wimbledon, you could say the Aussie a little under the odds.
Women’s Singles
There have been seven different champions in the last seven Grand Slam women’s singles, leaving us with what is is sure to be a fierce and heated battled. Karolina Pliskova ($5.50) and Petra Kvitova ($6) are clear favourites from Johanna Konta ($10), Venus Williams ($12) and Garbine Muguruza ($13).
Women’s Singles Best Bet
Tip: Serena Williams ($7.00)
The seven-time Wimbledon champion has been seeded 25th ahead of the tournament, but the breaking news of Petra Kvitova’s injury might just make her the favourite. Following last year’s absence, Williams quite literally has the luck of the draw on her side this time around. Her seeding means she’ll miss out on facing some of the bigger names prior to the third round, but having played only seven matches since her pregnancy last year means Williams will have plenty to prove.
Women’s Singles Best Value
Tip: Simona Halep ($13.00)
Betting on the world’s number one is always pretty safe, and at these long odds, you really can’t go wrong. Halep earned her first Grand Slam glory earlier this month, capturing the French Open title, and at age 26, she certainly has the legs to last the distance at Wimbledon. As evident in her French Open victory, Halep’s resiliency is what makes her so dangerous. After losing the first set to Sloane Stephens, Halep fought back to dominate winning the next two sets 6-4 and 6-1. She’s yet to record a victory on the grass, but is certainly in the right form to do so.
Women’s Singles Best Roughie
Tip: Eline Svitolina ($21.00)
Training and practicing in England, Svitolina feels right at home ahead of Wimbledon. Having beaten the likes of Aussie Ash Barty and Carina Witthoft, Svitolina will be looking to build on her exit in the Round of 16 last year. The 23-year old needn’t dwell on the past though, because her triumph over Simona Halep in the Italian Open earlier in May proved she can take down the elites of the competition.