Wimbledon Favourites – The Leading Contenders for Glory at SW19

As the Wimbledon tournament approaches, tennis fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the clash of the titans on the iconic grass courts.

The competition is fierce, with the top players vying for a chance to claim the coveted title and cement their place in tennis history.

In this article, we delve into the list of top contenders and analyze their chances of emerging victorious in the race for glory.

From the reigning champions eager to defend their titles to the rising stars aiming to make a breakthrough, this year’s Wimbledon promises thrilling matches and captivating moments.

Who will rise above the rest and etch their name in Wimbledon folklore?

Join us as we examine the strengths, weaknesses, and X-factor that each player brings to the table, revealing the likely contenders for this year’s Wimbledon crown.

We’ll take a look at both the men’s and women’s events, the key contenders and their odds. 

Get ready for a tennis spectacle like no other, as the world’s best compete for the ultimate prize in the sport.

The stage is set, the players are ready – let’s take a look at their chances. 

Men’s Singles Favourites

 

Carlos Alcaraz

Last year’s Wimbledon champion comes into the tournament as the favourite, at a general price of around 17/10 (or 2.7 in decimal odds).

The charismatic Spaniard is popular with the fans and thrilled the Wimbledon crowds last year throughout the tournament. 

His performance in the final in particular, defeating the seemingly invincible Djokovic with a sparkling array of shotmaking, sent the Wimbledon fans into raptures. 

Ice cold 🥶#Wimbledon | @carlosalcaraz https://t.co/phUqfkLpYo pic.twitter.com/ghokhX2h27

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 24, 2023

If he can reproduce that kind of form then Alcaraz will be a tough man to beat. 

The Spaniard became the youngest ever men’s world number one (in the Open era that is) in 2022 and has a US Open title to his name, in addition to his 2023 Wimbledon crown. 

So far in 2024 he has won just one title, the Indian Wells Masters Series event and is currently the world number 3.

The young superstar has shown a real liking for grass however, winning the Queens tournament last year in addition to the title at Wimbledon and having shown progress in each of his three visits to SW19.    

With doubts about Djokovic’s form and fitness, Alcaraz will relish the chance to try and defend his Wimbledon crown. 

It remains to be seen if the Spaniard can reproduce last year’s heroics, but he will undoubtedly be entertaining to watch whatever happens. 

 

Jannik Sinner

Another one of the main contenders for the title is Italian Jannik Sinner.

This year has been a breakthough year for the 22 year-old, with his first grand slam title coming at the Australian Open in January after a dramatic comeback against Daniil Medvedev.

Was this the spark that lit the fire in Sinner? 😮@Infosys • #InfosysAI • #AusOpenWithInfosys • #AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/b5msfVnL5a

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2024

Sinner has followed that up with titles in Rotterdam and Miami and after Djokovic withdrew from the French Open, ascended to the position of world number one. 

The Italian is currently rated around a 13/8 (or 2.63 in decimal odds) chance to win this year’s Wimbledon, vying for favouritism with Carlos Alcaraz. 

Like Alcaraz, he has shown progressive form at Wimbledon, with finishes of 1R-QF-SF (first round, quarter-final and semi-final) in his three visits to SW19. 

Last year’s loss in the semi-finals came in straight sets to Djokovic so he will be looking to build on that and go at least one better. 

Having enjoyed such a great year in 2024 – winning his first grand slam title and ascending to world number one – Sinner will be many people’s pick for this year’s Wimbledon and is deserving of a place as one of the favourites.  

 

Novak Djokovic

Whilst starting a red-hot favourite for last year’s Wimbledon, Djokovic was surprisingly beaten in five sets by rising star Carlos Alcaraz in a classic final. 

In grand slams and big events since that defeat, the former world number one has shown vulnerability, losing in the semi-final of the Australian Open to Jannik Sinner and going out in the early rounds of Indian Wells, Rome and Geneva, before withdrawing at Roland Garros.

In fact Djokovic has not won a tournament in 2024 and it remains to be seen whether he will even be able to compete at Wimbledon. Judging by news reports it is looking unlikely. 

 

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Women’s Singles Favourites

Now it’s time to take a look at the favourites for the women’s singles title at Wimbledon. 

It’s a competitive betting heat for the title this year, with some strong contenders vying for favouritism. 

 

Aryna Sabalenka

The big-hitting Belarusian star comes into Wimbledon as favourite for the women’s singles title, at general odds of around 3/1 (or 4.0 in decimal odds).

With the Australian Open title already tucked under her belt earlier this year, Sabalenka will be hoping to add the Venus Rosewater Dish to her growing collection of titles.

Back-to-back titles in Australia for Aryna Sabalenka 🏆 🏆

Aryna continues her reign as the Women’s Singles Champion at the Australian Open after defeating Qinwen Zheng 6-3 6-2 in the final at Melbourne Park.#AusOpen
pic.twitter.com/mIXYEqo2jH

— Women’s Sports Exchange (@wsportsxchange) January 27, 2024

That victory in Melbourne in January was her second grand slam, as she defended her Australian Open crown from the previous year. 

Since that triumph Sabalenka has been in decent form, reaching finals in Rome and Madrid before losing to clay court specialist Swiatek on both occasions.  

Her record at SW19 is promising, with semi-final runs in 2021 and 2023.

Sabalenka was unable to compete in the 2022 edition after Russian and Belarusian players were banned from that year’s tournament. 

Her big-serving, attacking game is well suited to the grass courts and it would not be a surprise to see her improve on her previous efforts at Wimbledon. 

The Belarusian will be looking to add to her grand slam tally with victory at Wimbledon and is rightly one of the favourites to do so. 

 

Iga Swiatek

The world number one has been in scintillating form in 2024, capturing titles in Rome, Madrid, Indian Wells and Doha. 

With four grand slams under her belt, Swiatek is a proven quantity at this level. 

However, her odds for Wimbledon tell a different story, currently sitting around the 9/2 (or 5.5 in decimal odds) mark. 

The reason for that is her record at SW19 is fairly poor for a player of her calibre, with her best result from four attempts being a quarter-final in 2023. 

Most comfortable on the clay, the Pole has struggled to find her feet on grass at times.

For the past two years she has also had to deal with the physical and mental challenge of trying to win the Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles back-to-back, which is no small task. 

Whether she can better adapt her game to the grass this time after a long and grueling clay-court season remains to be seen.    

However, if she could manage to do so she would be a formidable opponent for anyone based on her 2024 form so far. 

 

Elena Rybakina 

Another of the favourites in the women’s draw is Kazakhstan number one Elena Rybakina. 

The champion at Wimbledon in 2022, Rybakina is a general price of around 9/2 (or 5.5 in decimal odds) to triumph again this year. 

She has had a very good year so far, winning titles in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart. She also got to the final in both Qatar and Miami. 

In addition to her Wimbledon title two years ago, she also has a quarter-final and fourth round appearance to her name at the event, showing she is well adjusted to the grass of SW19. 

The Kazakhstani player also reached the final of the Australian Open in 2023, before losing to Sabalenka in three sets. 

If she can recapture her 2022 form at Wimbledon, then Rybakina will surely have a good shot at the title again.  

 

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Dark horses and potential upsets in the tournament

While the top-ranked players often grab the spotlight, Wimbledon has a history of unexpected upsets and breakthrough performances from underdogs.

These dark horses have the potential to cause significant upsets and disrupt the tournament’s hierarchy.

One such player to watch out for on the men’s side of the draw is Stefanos Tsitsipas, the young Greek sensation who has been making waves in the tennis world.

Tsitsipas’ aggressive playing style, powerful serves, and strong net game make him a dangerous opponent on any surface. He is available at odds of around 40/1. 

Another to watch out for is Grigor Dimitrov. Having made a semi-final at Wimbledon previously and with a title this season in Brisbane as well as a final in Miami and a quarter-final at Roland Garros, the veteran Bulgarian is having one of his best seasons in a while and is available at odds of 33/1. 

On the women’s side, Ons Jabeur is worth consideration having made the final the last two years at SW19. Coming off a quarter-final at Roland Garros the Tunisian can be backed at 15/1 at the time of writing. 

The US Open champion Coco Gauff is a perennial crowd favourite at Wimbledon having famously made a run to the fourth round in 2019 when just 15 years old. 

She has failed to better than performance since then but now as a grand slam champion will come into the tournament with greater confidence and the experience of winning under the most intense of pressure. Gauff’s odds for Wimbledon are around the 8/1 mark. 

Conclusion – Analysing the Favourites for the Wimbledon Title

As Wimbledon draws near, tennis fans anticipate an intense showdown on the iconic grass courts.

This article dissects the top contenders’ strengths, weaknesses, and odds, revealing potential champions.

In the men’s category, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic vie for victory. Alcaraz, the defending champion, showcases electrifying talent, while Sinner’s breakout year positions him as a formidable challenger. 

Among women, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina lead the charge. Sabalenka’s power game, Swiatek’s recent dominance, and Rybakina’s grass court prowess make them formidable opponents.

Amidst favourites, dark horses like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Ons Jabeur loom, ready to upset expectations.

As Wimbledon approaches, anticipation builds for a thrilling display of tennis prowess and unexpected twists on the hallowed SW19 grounds.

Who will etch their name in Wimbledon history?

We don’t have to wait long to find out. 

Now read: Who are the Best Tennis Tipsters?

 

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