Wimbledon ladies 3rd round day 5: Home hope Heather battles Serena
Heather Watson is the last surviving Brit left in the ladies’ singles draw at Wimbledon 2015, but will need to have everything go her way on Friday if she is to knock out five-time champion here and 6/4 title favourite with Coral Serena Williams.
Guernsey-born Watson (8/1 for victory), though, will be slightly more confidant in the fact that the American 20-time Grand Slam winner (1/20) hasn’t lifted the famous shield here since 2012. Therefore, you can back her at a tempting 14/1 price to win 2-1, as Alize Cornet and Sabine Lisicki did at the last two SW19 tournament.
By beating Serena, Watson would prevent a possible clash between the Williams sisters, as Venus (1/6), also a five-time champion here, could face the victor if she knocks out Aleksandra Krunic (7/2).
Another American, Sloane Stephens (evens), though, faces an intriguing encounter with sixth seed and slight favourite Lucie Safarova (odds-on at 8/11).
They have only met once before, with the Czech triumphing in straight sets last year in Dubai, but back her to win 2-1 this time around at 11/4 in this potential close clash.
Two more USA representatives are also in action in the ladies’ singles section on day five, as CoCo Vandeweghe (4/5) takes on former US Open champion Samantha Stosur (10/11), and qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands (7/4) faces the brilliant Belinda Bencic (2/5).
Elsewhere, 2004 winner Maria Sharapova is well fancied to beat Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu (7/1), with an odds-on favourite price of 1/16.
They have faced each other once before, back 2012 in Madrid, where the Russian (9/1 to win Wimbledon) triumphed at a loss of just three games. She is 2/9 for a 2-0 victory once more.
Other seeds Andrea Petkovic (2/5) and Victoria Azarenka (2/7) make up the other two fixtures on Friday in the ladies’ singles draw, and they face respective opponents Zarina Diyas (7/4) and Kristina Mladenovic (5/2), who are both prospects in the sport.
Coral’s betting tip – With the home crowd behind her, back Heather Watson to beat Serena Williams 2-1 @ 14/1
