The last six men’s singles championships at Grand Slam tournaments have been won by either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. These two men are the top two seeds at Wimbledon this year. Who is in the best position to challenge them, and how easily could this tournament turn into a storehouse of surprises?
Rafael Nadal
Odds To Win Wimbledon: +550
The French Open champion hasn’t gone past the fourth round of Wimbledon since 2011, so why is he a favorite? He avoided Gilles Muller and Kevin Anderson and Marin Cilic in his half of the draw, the kinds of players who can serve him off the court, take the racquet out of his hand, and deny him the ability to play into a rhythm. Nadal can get overpowered by huge hitters at Wimbledon – that is normally how he loses – but since he avoided these kinds of players in the draw, with the single exception of Juan Martin del Potro in a possible quarterfinal, his odds of making the final are very good. A reunion with Federer, 10 years after their unforgettable 2008 Wimbledon final, would create one of the sports stories of the year across the globe, not just in tennis itself.
Roger Federer
Odds To Win Wimbledon: +175
There isn’t much left to be said about the man who last year won a record eighth Wimbledon title among male players. Martina Navratilova has won nine women’s singles titles at Wimbledon, but Federer passed Pete Sampras for sole possession of the men’s lead with eight. No one knows his way through a Wimbledon draw better than Federer, who has reached the final in three of his last four Wimbledons and four of his last six. Federer is an extremely consistent player. He could face a very tough battle in the semifinals but should be right in the mix for another prestigious championship.
Novak Djokovic
Odds To Win Wimbledon: +425
The improvement in Djokovic’s game over the past few months has been noticeable. He was not at 100 percent at the French Open, still plagued by a certain degree of inconsistency and unable to get maximum production from his serve, but the defense and the groundstrokes and the energy were all where they needed to be. A week ago at the Queen’s Club tournament, the serve and a more attacking, offensive game showed up. Ever since longtime coach Marian Vajda – who took time off for awhile – returned to his coaching box, Djokovic has been restored by the presence of a familiar mentor and guide. Vajda and Djokovic are both making progress, and the development is so noticeable that it will be viewed as a surprise if the Serb doesn’t make the semifinals.
Marin Cilic
Odds To Win Wimbledon: +650
The man who played Federer in last year’s Wimbledon final is the man who could threaten and defeat Federer in a possible semifinal. Cilic defeated Djokovic in an excellent three-set final in Queen’s Club last week. He showed toughness and skill, agility and power, a complete package. Cilic is certainly playing well enough to win this tournament. If he can remain strong in key situations, he could topple Federer and create a final which is different from most expectations.
*Odds are courtesy of BetDSI Sportsbook.
