Wimbledon men’s 1st round: Fading legends Federer and Nadal feature
Published:
Wimbledon 2015 is now underway, and legends such as Roger Federer (15/2 title chance with Coral) and Rafael Nadal (16/1) highlight the first round action in the men’s singles draw on day two of the All-England Club Championships.
We have decided to preview all the non-British stars playing on Tuesday, but you can check out our home hopes article by clicking here.
It seems that last year’s runner-up Federer, 33, may only get one last crack at becoming the outright leading Wimbledon title champion, as he currently sits level on seven with Pete Sampras and Britain’s William Renshaw.
The Swiss star has showed signs of slowing down as his career reaches its twilight, but on his day can still beat anyone, and recently won his eighth Halle tournament.
Federer (1/100 heavy odds-on favourite) faces Bosnian Damir Dzumhur (14/1) in the first round, after just beating him in straight sets in this round at the French Open this year too. He is a more enticing 1/7 to win 3-0 again.
Fellow former Wimbledon winner Nadal, champion in 2008 and 2010, will perhaps be feeling the pressure this year, as he attempts to get past the fourth round at SW19 for the first time since 2011.
The Spaniard’s preparation for this event didn’t quite go to plan, as he was knocked out of the first round at Queen’s, although he did win the grass tournament before at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart.
Nadal’s first opponent this year at Wimbledon happens to be a player who has never got a set against the 14-time Grand Slam winner in four meetings, in Thomaz Bellucci. You can back the Spain star odds-on at 1/12 to beat Brazilian Bellucci (6/1), and 8/15 to do so 3-0.
Elsewhere, other top seeds in action include 2010 runner-up Tomas Berdych (1/8), who is against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy (9/2), and the Czech is 5/2 to defeat the world number 38 3-1.
Veteran Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, meanwhile, who has had one of the seasons of his life aged 33, is fancied odds-on at 1/9 to beat Belgian Steve Darcis (5/1).
French trio Gael Monfils (1/12), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (1/2) and Gilles Simon (2/9) face respective opponents Pablo Carreno Busta (6/1), Gilles Muller (6/4) and Nicolas Almagro (3/1).
Tsonga, who recently reached the French Open semis, arguably has the toughest test of his two compatriots, especially as he has lost twice in three meetings with the Luxembourgian and has suffered with injury. He is, therefore, a 9/2 shout to win in five sets.
Another intriguing match-up sees Latvian Ernests Gulbis takes on Lukas Rosol, who have both reached the third round here before and beaten each other once.
Czech Rosol has once knocked out Nadal at Wimbledon, and is a tempting 11/10 outsider for victory in this encounter too. Gulbis, meanwhile, is the odds-on favourite at 4/6.
