2010 Wimbledon Preview

The oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world gets underway this week from the All England Club in the London suburb of Wimbledon. It starts with both Men’s and Women’s first round action on Monday, June 21^st and concludes with the Women’s Championship on Saturday July 3^rd and the Men’s Championship on July 4^th. Wimbledon is the third major of the year in professional tennis and the only one that is contested on a grass surface.

In 2009 Serena Williams won the Women’s Singles Final and Roger Federer won the Men’s Singles Final. For Williams it was her third Wimbledon Title and for Federer it was his sixth. Here is a look at the current odds to win it all for the top players in this year’s field.

Men’s Odds

Roger Federer 13-8

Federer has dominated this tournament over the past seven years capturing six titles in that time frame. This year he has already won the Australian Open but was knocked out of the French Open in the quarterfinals. As such an overwhelming odds-on-favorite it would be hard to bet against him in this one.

Rafael Nadal 9-4

Nadal won this tournament in 2008, breaking Federer’s five year winning streak. Realistically he is probably the only other competitor in the field that has a chance to do it again. After getting bounced out of the Australian Open in the quarterfinals he came back to win the French Open, a tournament he has dominated with five wins in the past six years.

Andy Murray 9-1

Murray is currently ranked fourth in the world in men’s singles and is coming off a loss in the fourth round of the French Open. He was runner up in the Australian Open earlier in the year. He has the skill to possibly make it all the way to the Finals, but it is doubtful he could pull off an upset to get the win should Federer advance as well.

Andy Roddick 9-1

Roddick comes into this tournament ranked seventh in the men’s singles rankings. He made it all the way to the quarterfinals in the Australian Open but was knocked out of the French Open in the third round. He does have three runner ups at Wimbledon including last year, but would have to get by Federer in most likely the semifinals to make it that far again.

Women’s Odds

Serena Williams 9-4

Serena is back to defend her title, coming in this year as the No.1 ranked women’s singles player in the world. She has already won the Australian Open earlier this year, but lost in the quarterfinals of the French Open. She is understandably the odds-on-favorite at Wimbledon, but certainly not unbeatable.

Venus Williams 10-3

Venus has won this event five times with the latest title coming in 2008. She was runner up last year, losing to her sister. Currently ranked second in world in women’s singles, she presents the biggest challenge to Serena as they will both most likely advance to the finals.

Kim Clijsters 6-1

Clijsters comes into this tournament as the eight ranked women’s singles player in the world, but has attracted the attention of the odds makers who currently have her instilled as the third favorite. I am not sure her current game is where it needs to be to pull off an upset, but she remains a player to watch in this one.

Justine Henne 7-1

While Henne has won four French Opens and one Australian Open her best finish in seven tries at Wimbledon is runner up in 2001 and 2006. She is currently ranked 16^th in the world in women’s singles but did come in second in the Australian Open earlier this year. If she can quickly put it all together, she still remains a threat to be a factor in this one.