Wimbledon Preview - Betting on the 2006 WimbledonBy Rich CarlsonWagerweb.com Contributing Writer With the tennis season at the halfway mark, the top players in the world are descending upon London to participate in the most distinguished major tournament in tennis: The All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon. After a grueling clay court season, the players will need to adapt their games to the slick, clean-cut grass courts where power is king and a deft touch is very valuable. The story of the men's draw will be Roger Federer's quest for a fourth straight Wimbledon crown. Federer's excellence on grass has been legendary, as he has vanquished all comers in dominating fashion. Can somebody step on to Centre Court and dethrone the grass court master? On the women's side the question is: Can somebody not named Williams win the tournament? Venus Williams won her third Wimbledon crown last year, to go along with her titles in 2000 and 2001. Sister Serena beat Venus in the finals in 2002 and 2003, completing the Williams family's recent dominance of the Lawn Championships. With Serena out of the tournament due to injury and Venus just now returning from her own injuries, the women's championship is up for grabs. The betting odds to win the 2007 Wimbledon are now posted by Bodog.com, the world's premier online gaming website! Bet on the Wimbledon Men's Singles and Ladies' Singles and watch all the the World's top tennis players battle for the record-breaking $1.4 million top prize. All the action begins on June 25th and runs through till July 8th. Don't miss a stroke, bet on Roger Federer winning his fifth straight Championship Title! Here is a closer look at the title contenders, sleepers and long shots. * Overall records are as of 6/19/06 Men's Draw Contenders Roger Federer - Switzerland Tournament Seed: #1 2006 overall record: 49-4 Wimbledon career record: 25-4 (21 in a row) Best Wimbledon finish: Winner - 2005, 2004, 2003 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 2/5 Any discussion about grass court tennis must begin with world No. 1 Federer. He is the three-time defending Wimbledon champion, has won four straight Gerry Weber grass court titles, and has tied Bjorn Borg's all-time winning streak on grass with his 41st in a row. In his three years of Wimbledon dominance, Federer has lost a total four sets: one in 2003, two in 2004 and one in 2005. Federer's great court coverage, masterful passing shots and deft touch at the net are a perfect fit for the grass courts. Federer has been masterful again this year, and there is no reason to believe that his dominance on the Wimbledon lawns will end this year. There is never a sure bet in tennis, but Federer playing on grass at Wimbledon is as close to one as you'll ever find. Are you ready to win some cash? WagerWeb.com has built a solid reputation by offering their customers quick easy deposits, the best customer service in the industry, fast payouts and great bonuses. They specialize in the European Market for all sports including one of the best Football/Soccer divisions with lines for all the Major Conferences from around the Globe! Visit WagerWeb.com Today and start Winning! Andy Roddick - United States Tournament Seed: #3 2006 overall record: 24-11 Wimbledon career record: 21-5 Best Wimbledon finish: Finalist 2005, 2004 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 13/2 If you're looking for somebody who can discuss Federer's domination at Wimbledon first hand, look no further than Roddick. Federer has beaten Roddick in the past three Wimbledon championships: the finals in 2005 and 2004 and the semifinals in 2003. Roddick's powerful serve and blistering groundstrokes serve him well on the fast grass courts, and his volleying has steadily improved. He has enjoyed success on grass courts, winning the Queen's Club grass tournament three years in a row (2003, 2004, 2005) and losing in the semifinals of this year's tournament. Roddick's form in 2006 has been a bit shaky, as he has already suffered 11 losses. If Roddick is able to cut down on his unforced errors and play more consistently, he has the power to reach the Wimbledon finals once again. Lleyton Hewitt - Australia Tournament Seed: #6 2006 overall record: 22-9 Wimbledon career record: 21-6 Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals - 2005 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 15/1 Hewitt is an established grass court player, having won Wimbledon in 2002 as well as winning the Queen's Club championship three years in a row (2000-2002). Hewitt is entering this year's Wimbledon on a hot streak, as he won his fourth Queen's Club title over James Blake in the finals. When Hewitt is playing with confidence and going for his shots, he can be very tough to beat, and he always has confidence when he steps onto the Wimbledon lawns. With this year's Queen's Club title under his belt, look for Hewitt to advance deep into the second week of the tournament. Sleepers David Nalbandian - Argentina Tournament Seed: #4 2006 overall record: 29-9 Wimbledon career record: 13-3 Best Wimbledon finish: Finalist 2002 (lost to Hewitt) Sportsbook odds to win the title: 16/1 One would expect a tennis player raised on the clay courts of South America to be averse to playing on grass, but such is not the case with Nalbandian, who showed his all-court versatility in 2002 when he reached the Wimbledon finals. His results in 2002 were not a fluke, as he reached the round of 16 in 2003 and the quarterfinals in 2004. Nalbandian had to retire from his last match at the French Open due to injury, so his health and fitness could be an issue. If Nalbandian is healthy, he is very dangerous and is a player who the top seeds will be looking to avoid in the main draw. Mario Ancic - Croatia Tournament Seed: #7 2006 overall record: 31-12 Wimbledon career record: 9-4 Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals - 2004 (loss to Roddick) Sportsbook odds to win the title: 13/1 Ancic has emerged in 2006 as a very solid player, as his 31-12 record indicates. His game works on every surface, as he reached the quarterfinals of this year's French Open and the finals of hard court tournaments in Auckland and Marseilles. Ancic reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2004, where he lost to Roddick in four tough sets. With his all-court game hitting on all cylinders, Ancic could be a spoiler in this year's championships. James Blake - United States Tournament Seed: #8 2006 overall record: 30-14 Wimbledon career record: 2-3 Best Wimbledon finish: Round of 64 - 2002, 2003 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 38/1 Why is Blake, who owns a career record of 2-3 at Wimbledon, on my list of sleeper players? Blake is entering this year's tournament on a high after reaching the finals of the Queen's Club warm-up tournament, losing to Hewitt in the finals. Blake is solid off the ground off both sides, has a solid serve and good foot speed, and showed that he can compete on grass. Given a favorable draw, Blake could make some serious noise. Long Shots Tim Henman - Great Britain Tournament Seed: Unseeded 2006 overall record: 17-11 Wimbledon career record: 41-12 Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998 Sportsbook odds to win the title: (Field) 5/1 One of England's favorite sons, Henman has always played his best tennis at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals five times and the quarterfinals four times. Had it not been for a fellow named Pete Sampras, Henman could very easily be a Wimbledon champion already. Even though he's past his prime, Henman thrives on the crowd support, and his serve-and-volley game is always a dangerous prospect for opponents. After losing a heartbreaking five-set match in last year's round of 64, can Henman make one final run at glory? Sebastien Grosjean - France Tournament Seed: #15 2006 overall record: 16-11 Wimbledon career record: 21-7 Best Wimbledon finish: Quarterfinals 2005 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 66/1 Grosjean is a very clever grass court player who will not overpower his opponents, but rather will out-think them. The past three years at Wimbledon have been very successful for Grosjean, as he reached the quarterfinals in 2005 and the semifinals in 2004 and 2003. He is deceptively quick, and is a grinder who can stay out on the court all day. Gael Monfils - France Tournament Seed: #22 2006 overall record: 17-13 Wimbledon career record: 2-1 Best Wimbledon finish: Round of 32 - 2005 Sportsbook odds to win the title: (Field) 5/1 Monfils is quickly establishing a reputation as one of the most athletic players on tour. He's incredibly fast on court, which will serve him well on the Wimbledon grass, and has the stamina to wear out many opponents. Monfils won the Junior Wimbledon Championships in 2004, so he definitely feels comfortable on the grass. Monfils was forced to retire from the Queen's Club grass court tournament, so his health heading into the tournament is questionable. With his athleticism and enthusiasm, Monfils is a lot of fun to watch and could surprise some people early on in the tournament. Players to Watch Wayne Arthurs (Australia), Ivo Karlovic (Croatia), Mark Philippoussis (Australia) - Three very tall players with very huge serves, each of them can do a lot of damage on the fast grass courts of Wimbledon. Philippoussis reached the Wimbledon finals in 2003 and the quarterfinals three other times, but has been plagued by injuries in recent years. Karlovic took out Hewitt in the first round in 2003 when Hewitt was the defending Wimbledon champion. Arthurs is a 6-foot-3 left-hander who can serve up aces in bunches. Players to Avoid Andre Agassi (United States) - The 1992 Wimbledon champion is coming back from a hip injury, and crashed out in the first round of the Queen's Club warm-up tournament. Agassi has too much rust to be a major factor in the tournament, even though it will be his final Wimbledon. Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) - Ljubicic has a career 2-6 Wimbledon record, which includes first-round losses in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Until he proves he can adapt his game to the grass, don't waste your money on him. Rafael Nadal (Spain) - The world's best clay court player has been making some strides on the grass courts, losing in the quarterfinals of this year's Queen's Club tournament to Hewitt. The match was tied at one set when Nadal had to retire with a shoulder injury. After the grueling clay court schedule Nadal played, it is not surprising that his shoulder is dinged up. Nadal has a hard enough time playing on grass courts when he's healthy, never mind when he is injured. Thomas Johansson (Sweden) - The No.12 seed, Johansson lost in the first round of the Nottingham grass court warm-up tournament, where he was seeded No. 1. You want to enter your first match at Wimbledon on a high note, and losing in the first round of a warm-up grass court tournament doesn't speak well for Johansson. 
Women's Draw Contenders Amelie Mauresmo - France Tournament Seed: #1 2006 overall record: 30-7 Wimbledon career record: 18-6 Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals 2005, 2004, 2002 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 15/2 World No. 1 Mauresmo has all the skills needed to win major tournaments, as she proved at this year's Australian Open. However, her mental state can often be the defining part of her game. When Mauresmo is relaxed and comfortable, she can play fantastic tennis. When she is stressed out and tentative, her game suffers, as was seen once again in this year's French Open, where she crashed out in the round of 16. Mauresmo also recorded a disappointing result at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament at Eastbourne, where she was bounced in the second round by Nathalie Dechy of France. Mauresmo has produced very solid results at Wimbledon in the past few years, but her result at Eastbourne indicates that she may not have mentally overcome her collapse at the French. I would be very leery of putting any money down on Mauresmo. Justine Henin-Hardenne - Belgium Tournament Seed: #3 2006 overall record: 34-5 Wimbledon career record: 16-5 Best Wimbledon finish: Finalist 2001 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 7/2 Henin-Hardenne is coming into Wimbledon on a roll, having won her second consecutive French Open. She is playing with a lot of confidence, and has always been able to transition her game from the slow clay courts to the quick grass courts in London. Henin-Hardenne reached the Wimbledon finals in 2001 and the semifinals in 2002 and 2003, so she has proven her ability to win on grass. A stunning first-round loss to Eleni Danilidou in the 2005 Wimbledon championships was an aberration for Henin-Hardenne, who could be the front-runner to win the championships this year. Kim Clijsters - Belgium Tournament Seed: #2 2006 overall record: 20-6 Wimbledon career record: 17-6 Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals 2003 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 9/2 Now that Clijsters appears to be healthy again, she is a threat to win any tournament she enters. She produced a great result in the French Open, losing in the semifinals to eventual champion Henin-Hardenne. Her stamina and form have improved steadily during the year, and her past trips to the Wimbledon semifinals in 2003 and the fourth round in 2005 show she is a dangerous grass court player. As is said when every major rolls around, if Clijsters can stay healthy throughout the tournament, she must be considered a threat to win it. Maria Sharapova - Russia Tournament Seed: #4 2006 overall record: 27-6 Wimbledon career record: 15-2 Best Wimbledon finish: Winner 2004 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 9/4 Sharapova vaulted onto the world tennis scene with her demolition of two-time defending champion Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon finals, and has served notice that her Wimbledon title was no fluke, as she lost to Venus Williams in the 2005 semifinals. Sharapova's powerful groundstrokes and underrated serve carried her to the 2004 title, and could easily carry her to another title. Sharapova's form might not be as clean and crisp as she would like coming into this year's tournament, as she lost to unheralded American Jamea Jackson in the semifinals of the Birmingham grass court tournament. Sharapova always seems to save her best tennis for the big tournaments, and there is no bigger tournament than Wimbledon. Sleepers Nadia Petrova - Russia Tournament Seed: #5 2006 overall record: 33-8 Wimbledon career record: 14-6 Best Wimbledon finish: Quarterfinals 2005 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 18/1 Going into this year's French Open, Petrova was the hottest player on the WTA tour, having won three straight clay court tournaments (Amelia Island, Charleston, Berlin), and was considered by many to be the prohibitive favorite. However, Petrova suffered an injury prior to the French and lost in the first round. Petrova has shown she is comfortable on the grass courts, having reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2005. If Petrova has fully recovered from her injury and is able to return to her recent clay court form, don't be surprised to see her advance far into the tournament. Martina Hingis - Switzerland Tournament Seed: #13 2006 overall record: 35-11 Wimbledon career record: 19-6 Best Wimbledon finish: Winner 1997 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 8/1 It is official - the Swiss Miss is back. Hingis, the 1997 Wimbledon champion, completed a stellar clay court season by reaching the semifinals in Berlin, winning the tournament in Rome, and losing a tough quarterfinal match in the French Open. With every passing match, Hingis' fitness level increases, and her confidence grows. Hingis' smooth groundstrokes, deft passing shots and crisp volleys allow her to negate the powerful strokes of her opponents. Hingis faces an uphill battle as the 13th seed, but with her growing confidence and past Wimbledon experiences to draw upon, Hingis is very dangerous. Venus Williams - United States Tournament Seed: #7 2006 overall record: 10-4 Wimbledon career record: 42-6 Best Wimbledon finish: Winner 2005, 2001, 2000 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 6/1 You might be asking right now - how can Venus, a three time Wimbledon champion, not be listed in my group of tournament favorites? Williams has only played 14 matches this year due to injury, and is still trying to shake off the rust and improve her match fitness. Williams made the quarterfinals of the French Open before running out of gas, and showed some flashes of brilliance during the tournament. Williams' power game is amplified even further on the slick grass courts, and she has the ability to dominate any opponent on this surface. Even with her match rust and questionable fitness levels, do not underestimate Williams' chances to win this tournament. Long Shots Svetlana Kuznetsova - Russia Tournament Seed: #6 2006 overall record: 35-10 Wimbledon career record: 8-3 Best Wimbledon finish: Quarterfinals 2003, 2005 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 10/1 Kuznetsova has shown good form at Wimbledon the past couple of years, reaching the quarterfinals in 2003 and 2005. She has already registered a tournament win this year in Miami, where she beat Hingis, Mauresmo and Sharapova, and she lost in the finals at the French Open to Henin-Hardenne. She has the game to reach the quarterfinals once again. Elena Dementieva - Russia Tournament Seed: #8 2006 overall record: 23-10 Wimbledon career record: 11-7 Best Wimbledon finish: 4th round - 2004, 2005 Sportsbook odds to win the title: 52/1 Dementieva's history at Wimbledon is a tale of two players - the Dementieva who reached the fourth round in 2005, 2003 and 2002, and the Dementieva who lost in the first round in 1999, 2000 and 2004. If the Dementieva who won the Tokyo tournament in January shows up, she could have a nice run. If the Dementieva shows up who lost in the first round of the Australian Open to no-name Julia Schruff of Germany, Dementieva could be the first seeded player to lose. Players to Watch Dinara Safina (Russia) - Seeded No. 15, Safina has a career record of 2-3 at Wimbledon, advancing to the third round in 2005. With a 28-12 in 2006, Safina could pose some problems for the higher-seeded players in her draw. Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) - Hantuchova reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2002. Her 2006 match record is a less-than-impressive 18-12. Given a good draw, Hantuchova could advance to the second week of play. Jamea Jackson (United States) - The young American defeated Sharapova in straight sets on her way to her first career WTA tour final at Birmingham, where she lost to Vera Zvonareva in the finals 7-6, 7-6. A hot playing coming into Wimbledon is always dangerous. Vera Zvonareva (Russia) - Zvonareva won the grass court warm-up tournament at Birmingham last week. She has advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon twice, in 2003 and 2004. --- by Rich Carlson at WagerWeb.com on June 26, 2006
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