2012 Wimbledon Men’s Singles Preview

Wimbledon gets underway on Monday June 25 marking the true start of English summertime and a fortnights worth of top drawer Grand Slam action on the grass courts of SW19.

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic returns to defend his crown and the Serb is a best priced 7/4 to triumph ahead of 127 rivals all searching to land the big one.

But in truth, only a handful of the giant field are capable of potentially going all the way and spoiling Djokovic’s bid to secure back to back Wimbledon titles.

Rafael Nadal has been Djokovic’s closest rival for quite some time and the multi Slam winning Spaniard has to be regarded as the main candidate to topple the World No.1.

Nadal is twice a Wimbledon champion and will be confident of pushing for a treble success on the back of his recent French Open glory.

Rafa ruled supreme at Roland Garros for an unprecedented seventh time taking him above the legendary Bjorn Borg as the most prolific winner at the venue in history.

Although Nadal has been far from as dominant on grass, his sheer power, panache and athleticism makes him a true force to be reckoned with and as ever it will take something incredibly special to beat him.

The 5/2 about Nadal will give any backer a splendid chance of a decent pick up and it is difficult to envisage anyone else being truly up to the standard of the Iberian and Djokovic - who just appears to get better and better at each major tournament.

Six time Wimbledon king Roger Federer must once again be respected but his odds of 11/2 indeed suggest that the Swiss ace could be flat lining and on the wrong side of his best tennis.

Fed hasn’t won the championship since 2009 when he beat old adversary Andy Roddick in a thrilling five setter and it is fair to say that both Nadal and Djokovic have since taken the game to a completely new level.

Punters may well be drawn in to Federer’s sizeable odds, the biggest about his Wimbledon chance for quite some time, but the last four probably looks about as far as he can go.

The World No.3 exited at that stage twelve months ago after being stunned by Jo Wilifried Tsonga – and it is the Frenchman who rates as the tastiest value amongst the useful crop of outsiders.

Tsonga ran out of gas come the showpiece last year when he was beaten by Djokovic in straight sets; however he could be an even stronger dark horse this time around if able to stay energised and match fit.

Slightly off putting perhaps then are Tsonga’s recent injury niggles but if he can start the tournament fresh then he has to rate as a danger at massive odds of 33/1.

Juan Martin Del Potro is nearing a return to his best however the Argentine can be written off as grass is by far his weakest surface.

Tomas Berdych, Milos Raonic and John Isner are all capable of reaching the quarter-finals whilst Andy Murray should go deep into the championship once again without being quite good enough to become Britain’s first male winner since Fred Perry back in the 1930’s.

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18/06/2012     © Frixo 2024