Coral’s Wimbledon best bet specials: 10 top tips to take

As Wimbledon fast approaches, Coral writers provide punters with ten top Wimbledon tips to take for the tournament, to help your viewing of the All-England Club competition all the more enjoyable over the next two weeks.

Men’s singles:

Novak Djokovic NOT to drop a set at 12/1
While this feat in the men’s section has only been achieved four times before in any era, and not since Bjorn Borg in 1976, Djokovic is the one star that has the potential to not concede a game in his probable seven matches.

The Serb is the current number one, and has been in great form this year, despite a blip in the French Open final to Stan Wawrinka.

Top three seeds all to reach the semi-finals at 3/1
This is also a rare feat in modern times, which explains Coral’s great odds, with the last time the top three seeds making it to the semis being exactly a decade ago. Roger Federer (then-top seed) beat Andy Roddick (2) in the final, with the Swiss knocking out Lleyton Hewitt (3) in the round before in 2005.

This year, it is very difficult to see past in-form trio Djokovic (1), recent Halle champion Federer (2) and Queen’s Club victor Andy Murray (3), all past Wimbledon winners, from reaching the semis.

Andy Murray beaten finalist at 10/3
Britain’s Murray certainly knows how to get to Grand Slam finals, having done so on eight occasions throughout his career to date, but has triumphed just twice.

With Djokovic likely to meet Murray on July 12th – many other rising stars are also potential opponents – back the Scot at a tempting price to fall short once more.

A new title winner at 7/2
If you fancy Djokovic, or other past winners that are taking part this year, Murray, Federer, Rafael Nadal and Hewitt, not to claim the title, then take this enticing bet. The former four may have dominated the sport in recent years, but three of the last six Grand Slam tournaments have been won by others.

Wawrinka recently shocked Djokovic, who has not had much grass court preparation leading up to Wimbledon, in the French Open final, to add to his Australian Open title in 2014, while Marin Cilic is the current US Open holder.

Those duo, as well as rising stars Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori are all in the Serb’s half of the draw, and their desire for victory could lead to one of them winning at SW19 too.

Rafael Nadal eliminated in the third round at 5/1
Double Wimbledon winner Nadal has once again not had an enjoyable season and, besides the French Open, has won just one of the last 14 Grand Slams.

The injury-prone Spaniard has not made it past the fourth round in the last three years at the All-England Club, and following his first round exit from Queen’s looks set to flop again.

Nadal could face Viktor Troicki in the third round this year, and would be up against it after the Serb recently reached the semis of Queen’s and final at the Mercedes Cup, where he incidentally lost to the 14-time Grand Slam champion.

Ladies’ singles:

Serena Williams NOT to lose a set at 11/2
In the Open Era, a total of 10 Wimbledon titles have been lifted after a player went through the tournament without dropping a set, and top seed and five-time champion Williams has done so twice before (in 2002 and 2010).

Top 3 Seeds all to make the semi-finals at 10/1
This was last achieved in the women’s draw in 2008, when Williams (2) beat her sister Venus (3) in the final, with the latter knocking out Dinara Safina (1) in the semis.

This year, Serena (1), defending champion Petra Kvitova (2) and 2014 semi-finalist Simona Halep (3) have a great chance of the doing the same.

Any British woman to reach the fourth round at 4/1
While no British woman has reached the last 16 here since Laura Robson in 2013, there are a couple others that cause shocks this year.

Robson may be returning from injury, but on her day can beat anyone. Fellow Australian-born Johanna Konta, meanwhile, recently had a terrific run to the quarters at the Eastbourne International event, and Heather Watson has the potential to cause some trouble too.

Maria Sharapova eliminated in the semi-finals at 7/4
We all know Sharapova’s talent, and reaching the semis would be a great achievement for her given that she’s only got to that stage at Wimbledon once in the last eight years.

The Russian is destined to face Serena in the last four this year, and has lost both encounters with the American at the All-England Club, including once in the semi-finals, so back her to bow out then again.

Men’s and ladies’ singles:

4-6 British players to reach second round 11/8
Unless it’s Murray, British fans don’t usually get their hopes up ahead of Wimbledon, but this year there is a good chance that at least a few from both draws can make it to the second round.

In the men’s section, obviously Murray is expected to get through, while new Brits Aljaz Bedene and Brydan Klein may fancy their chances against veteran Radek Stepanek and clay-court specialist Andreas Seppi respectively.

Elsewhere, talented youngster Kyle Edmund faces Alexandr Dolgopolov, Davis Cup hero James Ward takes on David Ferrer and Liam Broady duels with lowly-ranked Marinko Matosevic.

For the women, besides Robson, Watson and Konta, Naomi Broady faces a winnable match against Mariana Duque.