Who are the favourites to seal Wimbledon glory?
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Who will take home the spoils at SW19?
The All England Club is ready to serve up yet another year of great grass-court action.
So while the watching Wimbledon crowd tuck into their strawberries and cream in the sun or beverages on Henman Hill, you won’t be short of thrills at SW19.
Andy Murray is still making his come-back and will wait until the last-minute on whether to enter. But there are plenty of other contenders champing at the bit to be centre-stage.
The Coral News Team takes a look over the challengers and what they could offer…
Roger Federer – 15/8
The record eight-time winner is arguably the greatest to ever do it. The Swiss is looking to defend the title he won against Marin Cilic last time out.
He has had many rivalries down the years. But he’s been able to volley them away showing incredible longevity to stay at the pinnacle of the game.
But this may be one of the toughest to date, with young upstarts Alex Zverev and Dominic Thiem waiting in the wings.
The 36-year-old lost to Borna Coric in the Halle Open final last week.
But one thing all tennis-lovers know is you can never fully derail the Federer Express.
Rafael Nadal – 7/1
Nadal was once again lauded as the best clay-court player ever after winning the French Open last month.
But his recent Wimbledon record hasn’t quite matched up. Since making the final in 2011, he hasn’t advanced past the fourth round.
It still seems shocking despite the recent regularity, as he made four finals and won twice between 2006 and 2010.
It’s clear the grass isn’t his favoured surface but Nadal’s unwavering resolve and athleticism means he will always remain a favourite at Wimbledon.
If he can make it into the second week then he might get everyone believing.
Marin Cilic – 7/1
Cilic lost out to Federer last year but showed he can be a real threat to the once impenetrable ‘fab-four’.
His win over Novak Djokovic at Queen’s club only heightened this theory.
Cilic is now on course to join a list including Murray, Nadal, John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Pete Sampras who have all won Wimbledon after lifting the Fever-Tree Championship trophy.
He reached the Australian Open final back in January and narrowly lost out to Juan Martin del Potro in the last eight in Paris.
But on grass he has only lost three matches in his last twenty, making three finals on the way.
This record alone means Cilic will be a big threat at Wimbledon this year.
Petra Kvitova – 4/1
On the women’s side of the draw Petra Kvitova will be one they will want to avoid for as long as possible.
She may have withdrawn from the Eastbourne Open this week but the two-time Wimbledon champ will be a front-runner at SW19.
Winner in 2011 and 2014, a hand injury meant Kvitova hasn’t made it past the second round in the last two years.
However, exceptional timing and variety in her game helped retain her Nature Valley Classic title in Birmingham last week.
She only dropped one set on her way to victory, it might be the boost she needs ahead of the big one next week.
Serena Williams – 6/1
Williams had to pull out of Roland Garros with a pectoral injury but has been given a boost ahead of the Wimbledon championships.
She has been awarded the 25th seed by the WTA despite being well outside the current top 32.
This has evoked a mixed reaction from her fellow professionals but gives Williams a better chance of reaching the latter rounds.
It may only be her third tournament since her return from maternity leave, but the seven-time Wimbledon winner could emerge victorious yet again.
Garbine Muguruza– 8/1
The defending champion will be a real threat once more in the women’s draw.
Ranked at World number-three Muguruza had a solid run to the semi-finals of the French Open last month.
Although the 24-year-old will feel the grass is where she can do the most damage.
She made her first final in 2015 but wasn’t quite ready, losing in straight-sets to Serena Williams.
But 2017 was when she showed the Wimbledon crowd just how good she can be. A close first-set was won 7-5, before blowing Venus Williams away 6-0 in the second.
Simona Halep may be seeded number-one, but it’s Muguruza the rest of the field will be wary of.
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
