Wimbledon Odds Still Favor Federer, Serena Williams New Favorite in Women’s Draw

Posted on: July 5, 2018, 01:00h. 

Last updated on: July 5, 2018, 02:17h.

Cort Smith Read More

Expertise: Sports Betting, Sports.

With the first few rounds in the books at Wimbledon, ATP Tour legend Roger Federer has only solidified his role as the men’s favorite. Meanwhile, American legend Serena Williams has moved into the driver’s seat on the women’s side.

The eight-time champion at the All England Tennis Club made quick work of his first two opponents. Federer lost only eight games in a straight-set victory over first-round opponent Dusan Lajovic. Another straight-set victory was next as he barely broke a sweat in dispatching Slovakian Lukas Lacko 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 in Round 2.

The 36-year old now heads into his third-round matchup with German Jan-Lennard Struff as a big favorite to win it all. Federer opened the tournament with 15/8 odds of taking the championship, but he’s now closer to an even-money proposition at most sports books.

Ladbrokes is paying even less than that, with his two main competitors lagging considerably behind.

Roger Federer – 10/11

Novak Djokovic – 5/1

Rafael Nadal – 5/1

Juan Martin Del Potro – 16/1

Nick Kyrgios – 14/1

Mom’s the Word with Serena Williams

Meanwhile, new mother Serena Williams has moved into pole position in the women’s draw.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion, who had her first child last fall, opened the tournament with the second-best odds at winning the women’s singles title. But after cruising through her first few matches, she’s now the betting favorite.

Williams was paying out at 6/1 when the tournament got underway, just behind Petra Kvitova at 5/1. However, the Czech player suffered a stunning upset in the first round against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, allowing Williams to slide into the role of favorite.

Serena Williams – 3/1

Simona Halep – 5/1

Gabrine Muguruza – 6/1

Angelique Kerber – 7/1

The American woman with the next best odds to win Wimbledon is Madison Keys at 9/1.

Williams has yet to drop a set through two rounds and will face France’s Kristina Mladenovic in the next round. The 23-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t won a major tournament since the Australian Open in January, 2017.

Favorites Falling Like Flies

Of course, as any good bettor knows, a label of favorite doesn’t do anything to guarantee victory, and we’ve seen that through the first few rounds at Wimbledon.

As mentioned, the best bet to win it all on the women’s side didn’t even make it through the first round. Kvitova is a two-time champion in England and has more victories than any other woman in 2018. Yet, she was knocked out by the 50th-ranked player in the world in three sets.

Former champion Maria Sharapova was also sent to the sidelines in Round 1 by an unranked opponent.

The men haven’t been immune either. Third-seeded Marin Cilic blew a two set lead in a shocking second-round loss to Guido Pella this week. The Croatian entered the tournament with the third-best odds to win it.

So while Federer and Williams may be the betting favorites for now, it’s still a long road filled with potential landmines in the weeks ahead.