Tennis Wimbledon Betting Previews for 2024

‘Sandwiched in between’ the clay courts of the French Open and that same Roland Garros venue of the Paris Olympics is the fortnight (thru Sunday, July 14th) of Wimbledon.

It’s the marquee grass tournament on the tennis calendar, and the action is already underway at the All England Club. Here’s a look at some of the stories, the players favored to win and other wagering options to consider…

Murray’s No Singles

Fans were hoping to see home-country hero Andy Murray compete at Wimbledon. He withdrew out of his first-round match with Tomas Machac of Czechia. competing only in doubles,

Murray won’t play in singles any longer.

The 37-year-old had surgery to repair a spinal cyst, and doesn’t feel he’s in shape to compete on his own. He will be retiring after this summer’s Paris Olympics, so this was his last major.

He won the men’s title in both 2013 and 2016 (and the 2012 U.S. Open), and will go down as one of Britain’s best individual athletes from Britain. His matches at Wimbledon always draw huge, partisan crowds to cheer him on.

Murray’s withdrawal from Murray was a big story early in the event, but didn’t have much to do with the wagering. There are some other icons still competing, certainly among the favorites. 

Djokovic Hasn’t Wavered

Serbia’s second-seeded Novak Djokovic has already won seven Wimbledon singles titles in his career, and don’t put it past him to add to that. Playing on a surgically-repaired knee, but little rust an opening-round, straight-set (1,2, and 2) win against Czechia’s Vit Kopriva.

He opposed England’s Jacob Fearnley as of this (Thursday) writing, leading two sets to one.  

Djokovic and that injury were perhaps the biggest story ahead of the tournament, having withdrawn in Paris after the injured meniscus. It was the plan to concentrate on a return to France and the Olympics, Wimbledon an ‘afterthought.’

Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz in an historic final a year ago.

There was a stunner on the men’s side of the draw. Sixth-seed Russian Andrey Rublev, a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 2023, was bounced by Argentina’s Francisco Comesana in four sets. He didn’t take it well.

Odds to Win

As the tournament unfolded, favoritism on the men’s side seemed to fluctuate between the defending champion, No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and the top-seeded Italian, Jannilk Sinner. Both were right around 2-1 (+200).

Novak Djokovic entered as a second-seeded ‘wild card,’ as the post-French Open knee surgery and very quick turnaround ahead of Wimbledon had him as the very un-Djokovic third choice. Those who took him on the north side of 3-1 (+300) have to be pleased.  

If not any of the three top seeds in the tourney, odds were quite high, and perhaps enticing.

If you’re looking ahead to the season’s final major, Alcaraz and Djokovic are the 8-5 (+160) co-favorites, according to U.S. Open tennis odds. Sinner was listed at 9-4 (+225). 

…and the Ladies

As with the men, there are three ladies who are dominating the board. Poland’s Iga Swiatek, fresh off another win at the French Open, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and American Coco Gauff each have their supporters.

Swiatek and Rybakina, each hovering in the 3-1 (+300) to 7-2 (+350) range, were both in second-round action today (Thursday), while Gauff was scheduled to play Friday.

However, last season’s champ, Czechia’s Marketa Vondrousova, did lose her first-round match. It was the first time in 30 years a defending ladies’ winner was ousted in the opening round. Also bounced was No. 5 American Jessica Pegula by a Chinese opponent in the second round.

Back to Swiatek, who’s so dominant (three-peat, four overall) in Paris that she’s minus-money (-175) to do it again, as per French Open tennis odds.

Today’s History Lesson

Here’s a list of Wimbledon’s ladies champions since 2000…

2023 Marketa Vondrousova (Czech Republic) beat Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) 6-4 6-4
2022 Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) beat Jabeur (Tunisia) 3-6 6-2 6-2
2021 Ash Barty (Australia) beat Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3
2020 cancelled (pandemic)
2019 Simona Halep (Romania) beat Serena Williams (U.S.) 6-2 6-2
2018 Angelique Kerber (Germany) beat Serena Williams (U.S.) 6-3 6-3
2017 Garbine Muguruza (Spain) beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 7-5 6-0
2016 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Kerber (Germany) 7-5 6-3
2015 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Muguruza (Spain) 6-4 6-4
2014 Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) 6-3 6-0
2013 Marion Bartoli (France) beat Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 6-1 6-4
2012 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6-1 5-7 6-2
2011 Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-3 6-4
2010 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 6-3 6-2
2009 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 7-6(3) 6-2
2008 Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Serena Williams (U.S.) 7-5 6-4
2007 Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Bartoli (France) 6-4 6-1
2006 Amelie Mauresmo (France) beat Justine Henin (Belgium) 2-6 6-3 6-4
2005 Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) 4-6 7-6(4)9-7
2004 Sharapova (Russia) beat Serena Williams (U.S.) 6-1 6-4
2003 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 4-6 6-4 6-2
2002 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 7-6(4) 6-3
2001 Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Henin (Belgium) 6-1 3-6 6-0
2000 Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Davenport (U.S.) 6-3 7-6(3)