As the final week of June arrives, for tennis fans that can only mean one thing: Wimbledon! With many of the best in the world either ruled out through injury or not permitted to participate with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the 2022 edition will look slightly different.
Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are both banned from competing, and with Roger Federer out and Alexander Zverev beginning his road to recovery from ligament damage, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal look set to vie for the famed golden trophy.
As defending champion, Djokovic will look to forget a difficult year as the Serb seeks a seventh Wimbledon title. 13/14 favourite with SBK, his defeated opponent from last year’s final, Matteo Berrettini is second in the markets at 11/2 with SportNation and PaddyPower whilst Nadal meanwhile, is perhaps a surprising 8/1 shot with 10Bet given his French Open win only last month.
British hopes may lie with world number 12 Cam Norrie. Yet to advance past the third round of a slam, Norrie has made huge strides in the past year and looks ready to challenge in 2022. On his side of the draw, Hubert Hurkacz is his main rival for the last four but Norrie stands good value at 17/2. In the same portion of the bracket however, Roland Garros finalist Casper Ruud has been a revelation on the ATP Tour this season and the Norwegian can make Wimbledon his own, at 12/1 to reach the semi’s himself – both prices with SkyBet.
Andy Murray will compete in his 14th All England Championships this year. Since winning for the second time six years ago, the Scot has not progressed past the quarters but is pinpointing this competition as a return to the latter stages of a slam. Djokovic or the in-form Carlos Alcaraz stand in his way of the last four but for Murray to do so, an e/w price of 25/1 with Betfred might appeal.
The women’s draw, meanwhile, is shorn of just one of the WTA top 10 in Aryna Sabalenka and the field looks wide open. World number one and newest slam winner Iga Swiatek is the bookies’ choice at 9/5 with Smarkets but American Cori Gauff is tipped by many to follow in the footsteps of Serena and Venus Williams as dominant names at Wimbledon. The teenager was beaten last year by semi-finalist and 2018 winner Angelique Kerber but should go deep in this year’s tournament after losing to Swiatek in the French final. Gauff is 12/1 with Coral to claim the Venus Rosewater Dish.
British fans will be desperate to see star attraction Emma Raducanu go far on just her second appearance at the All-England Club, however, injuries have plagued the US Open champion all season. Drawn against 10th seed Alison Van Uytvanck first up, the Briton faces a tough opening game but could be carried by home support both here and later into the tournament and remains at 9/1 with Betfred to win her side of the draw, reaching the last four.
Two other names to consider, Ons Jabeur, arrives at SW19 fresh from winning the German Open earlier this month. A quarter-finalist 12 months ago, the Tunisian is in the form of her life as third seed and has the game to win the competition. Jabeur can been grabbed at a best bet of 10/1 with UniBet. Fifth seed Maria Sakkari could also do well having reached the last four at Flushing Meadows last year. Although the Greek has not reached the last 32 at Wimbledon to date, Sakkari has as good a chance as any to make a serious impression. At a price of 32/1 on The Betfair Exchange, for a player ranked in the top five in the game, she looks excellent value.
As the tournament progresses we will have our eyes on more specials, so keep it BestofBets throughout Wimbledon 2022.
