The third Grand Slam event of the season gets underway in South London at the beginning of July and this year’s tournament, always one of the highlights of the sporting calendar, is shaping up to be a fascinating and wide-open contest.
The current favorite with most New Jersey sports book is Novak Djokovic, who announced his return from a long spell in the doldrums with victory at Wimbledon in 2018, following up with a win at the US Open and then claiming the first Grand Slam event of 2019 in Australia.
His form since the Australian Open win has been patchy, but it is clear he is targeting the Grand Slam events, in the same way Roger Federer started to do as he entered his thirties. A four-time Wimbledon winner, it is his second most successful Grand Slam event, and if he arrives fit and healthy after his French Open exertions, it will take a lot to stop him.
Other hopefuls
His main rival, at least in terms of the seedings, appears to be Rafael Nadal, who is seeded to meet Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. Nadal’s decline has been long-prophesized, but he continues to grind out tournament wins despite a string of injury problems. Nevertheless, there have been clear signs of deterioration this year, and although he may well end up as French Open champion again, he hasn’t reached a Wimbledon final since 2011.
Djokovic’s main challenger might turn out to be the grand old man of Wimbledon. Federer holds the record of eight Wimbledon singles titles and apparently has no intention of bowing out of the tennis spotlight any time soon. Grass courts showcase his shot-making and precision, and he clearly loves the surroundings at Wimbledon, so it could be unwise to bet against him.
The Women’s Singles
Serena Williams has attained a similar level of Wimbledon dominance as Federer in the women’s game and she is likely to be the favorite again this year, to add to her seven Wimbledon titles. But she has been struggling notably for fitness this year, and her defeat at the US Open final last year has dented her aura of invincibility, so she won’t be the odds-on favorite.
She is also likely to face a stiff challenge from Petra Kvitova. The left-hander from the Czech Republic is in the form of her life this year, and has already won two titles, as well as reaching the final of the Australian Open. A two-time Wimbledon champion, she has the game to cope with the demands of grass court tennis, and she is sure to be a lively contender for Wimbledon glory this July.
Other players to watch include the defending champion, Angelique Kerber. She has been having a difficult season, with illness and injury hampering her ability to find her best form but having missed the bulk of the clay court season, she should be fresh for Wimbledon. The big serving Karolina Pliskova, who has twice won tournaments on grass, has the ideal game to thrive in South London if she can find a little momentum and confidence ahead of what promises to be an enthralling tournament.