When it comes to tennis, few would argue that London hosts the most iconic Grand Slam with its prestigious tournament at Wimbledon.
Going into the 2021 instalment of the Wimbledon story, Novak Djokovic is the firm favourite amongst punters to leave SW19 with the title, but there are some series contenders looking to cause an upset in the men’s competition.
Djokovic With Form and Confidence
The All England Club on Church Road, Wimbledon will play centre stage for the highly-anticipated event, which is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. Heading to London, world number one Djokovic is the man to beat and is 10/11 in the Wimbledon betting to come away from England’s capital with the title. The Serbian star has already managed to win both the Australian Open and French Open this year, and now has 19 Grand Slam titles to his name. Of course, there are no guarantees in a sport as fickle as tennis and the ever-changing Wimbledon betting tips reflect the unpredictable nature of the game and the tournament.
Djokovic is also the reigning Wimbledon champion and will take some stopping to be denied the sixth title of his career at SW19 this summer. Rival Rafael Nadal has decided to pull out of the tournament and the Tokyo Olympics, following a rigorous clay-court season that took its toll on the Spaniard. With Djokovic in such impressive form, Nadal might well be keeping his powder dry for the US Open at Flushing Meadows later in the year.
Tsitsipas Eyeing an Upset
One man who looks capable of denying Djokovic a 20th Grand Slam title, for now, is the Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas. The 22-year-old is in great form, after reaching his maiden Grand Slam final at the French Open, only to be denied the title by Djokovic.
Having impressed on clay, Tsitsipas has said he feels confident he will be able to adapt his game to Wimbledon’s pristine grass surfaces. The Athenian player has never made it further than the fourth round at the All England Club, but punters are looking at Tsitsipas as a real challenger to Djokovic in London.
A Swansong for Federer?
It’s impossible to speak in-depth about the history of Wimbledon without mentioning the great Roger Federer. The Swiss icon has won the tournament on eight previous occasions, with 2017 being his last success at SW19.
At the age of 39, Federer has been forced to manage his workload and appears to have been saving himself to have a real go at a ninth Wimbledon title this year. The 20-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from the French Open after reaching the fourth round earlier this year. Injuries have hampered Federer over the last few seasons, but he’s listened to his body and taken a short break to recuperate. However, if Federer is fit and fresh for Wimbledon, and manages to get through the early stages without any gruelling five-set encounters, he is expected to pose a threat.
Competitors such as Daniil Medvedev are presently staked at 6/1 for the coveted winner of the men’s singles, however, the likes of Tsitsipas and Federer will be looking to write their own success stories in London this summer. As for the outcome, all we can do is watch and wait.