Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and the arguably the most popular of the four Grand Slams.
This historic event takes place on an annual basis, and is staged in late June/early July. It’s one of the most prestigious sporting events on the calendar, and is watched by millions of tennis fans around the world. It is the only major tournament to be played on outdoor grass courts, and is renowned for its plush playing surface.
The tournament is staged over two weeks, and there a numerous competitions staged over the course of the fortnight. Gentlemans, Ladies, Mixed Doubles and the Junior tournaments all take place at SW19, with all of these competitions concluding on the final weekend.
Wimbledon is synonymous with British values, and a strict dress code is enforced by the All England Club. The Grand Slam is also famous for strawberries and cream and Pimms.
Although rain often disrupts play at Wimbledon, the addition of a retractable roof on centre court has allowed action to continue despite abhorrent weather conditions.
Like all Grand Slams, male tennis players compete in a best-of-five sets format, whilst the ladies tournament is played in the shorter form. As of 2019, a decisive tiebreak game will be played if the players cannot be separated at 12-12 in the final set.
The winner of the previous year’s tournament will open proceedings on centre court the following year. Players are seeded based on their International rankings, and 104 players will be directly entered into the main draw. Qualifying takes place on the week leading up to the event. 32 players on both the mens and ladies side of the draw will be given seedings and as a result, they will avoid facing fellow top-ranked players during the early stages of the tournament.
Although Andy Murray was arguably the most popular winner of the tournament back in 2012, Roger Federer is the most successful player of all time with eight victories at the tournament. Novak Djokovic has also enjoyed a lot of success in West London, and he secured top honours back in 2018. There is always plenty at stake, with prize money rising by 12.5% back in 2017. Champions receive £2.2million in prize money and 2000 ranking points for winning Wimbledon.
Martina Navratilova is the most successful female player at the tournament with nine titles. Angelique Kerber was the 2018 champion, with the German beating Serena Williams in the showpiece event.
Wimbledon made the headlines back in 2010, when John Isner and Nicholas Mahut for playing the longest tennis match in the history of the game, and there is a plaque outside court 18 to commemorate this achievement.
There is traditionally a break in play on ‘Middle Sunday’, although rain delays can often dictate that games will occasionally be moved around, and it’s not uncommon for a handful of matches to be rescheduled as a result.
Wimbledon is a hugely popular betting event, and attracts plenty of money in both the ante-post market, and on a match-by-match basis. The tournament is televised by the BBC, with viewers being able to access pictures from every single court, allowing punters to follow the progress of their wagers.
When and Where?
Wimbledon is held in West London, and attracts millions of overseas visitors each and every year. It is held during British summertime, although it has recently been pushed back a week due to the addition of ATP Stuttgart. It also give players an extra week to recouperate after the French Open, which is staged at the end of May/start of June.
Why is Wimbledon so Popular?
All four of the tennis Grand Slams are hugely popular, but Wimbledon has a significant appeal. For European tennis fans, it is the chance to watch the tournament at social hours, and the often-clement climate also adds to the appeal. With so many matches taking place over such a short period of time, it is a chance to enjoy back-to-back matches over the course of a fortnight.
Fans can also see their favourite players in action, and with so much prize money on offer, competitive matches are rife.
Wimbledon always provides plenty of drama and numerous talking points, and is one of the most anticipated events on the calendar.
What Betting Opportunities are Available?
There are hundreds of betting opportunities available throughout the tournament. Ante-post outright wagers are available all-year-round, and these markets will be affected by other Grand Slams and major rankings events on the calendar.
Throughout the tournament, every single match will be available in-play meaning that there are hundreds of betting opportunities every single day.
Many bookmakers will also bundle together players to win, offering several enhancements throughout the course of the competition.
Key Betting Markets
Outright Market – This is simply a case of predicting which player will finish as the overall winner of the tournament. Markets are available on both the mens and womens game, with doubles tournaments priced up closer to the competition getting underway. Most bookies will pay 1/2 odds for your player reaching the final if you’ve backed them each-way.
To Reach the Final – Does what it says on the tin. This is simply a case of predicting which player will reach the final of the tournament.
To Reach the Semi-Finals/To Reach the Quarter-Finals – This is ideal for players who are fancied to reach the latter stages of the tournament. Some players don’t have the stamina or mental capacity to reach the last two, and therefore they should be backed on these markets. Outsiders are always a better prospect in this market.
Stage of Elimination – There are always lots of different markets priced up by bookmakers, and there are usually specials relating to specific players. Roger Federer, eight-time champion, can be predicted to crash out at the quarter-final stage/semi-final stage or at the final hurdle. Bigger prices are available for the Swiss to be eliminated in the first, second or third round.
Match Win – Each game will have outright prices on each player to be victorious in their respective match. There can be very short prices available on first round games, but once the seeded players begin to cross paths, prices will become more competitive. These markets are ideal for accumulator betting during the early stages of the tournament.
Handicap Markets – With a plethiora of short prices during the early rounds, handicap betting is generally seen as the way to go. This allows underdogs a head-start, whilst it also gives overwhelming favourites a handicap to overcome. For example, if Kevin Anderson takes on an unseeded player in round 2, you can wager on -6.5 games, which means the South African must be victorious by seven clear games in order for you to receive a pay-out.
Total Sets – This is a very popular way of betting, and allows punters to make a prediction without specifying which player will win go on to win the game. One sided matches can often be shortish affairs, and a straight sets victory is highly likely. More competitive games against plucky opposition can lead to five sets and several tie-breaks. Players who hold their serve effectively are always good for Overs markets. These lines will be determined by the bookmakers ahead of each match.
To Win the First Set – This is a case of predicting which player will make a fast start to the match. Your chosen player doesn’t have to neccessarily win the match, but just secure the first set. It is ideal to target slow-starters or players who start well, but struggle to keep their concentration during the late stages.
Correct Score Betting – Bigger odds are available for predicting the correct score in a match. This is harder on the mens side of the game as it is contested over five sets. Some matches are tight and tense affairs and some punters often back a number of correct scores as they look to hedge their bets.
Score After Six Games – This is one of many match markets which are ideal for two players who are closely matched. Punters can predict a game to be tied at 3-3 after the first six games. Other options include 5-1 and 4-2, and these are better for perceived one-sided affairs.
Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for Wimbledon
Grass Court Form is Essential – Every player will have their own unique style, and some tennis stars specialise on particular courts. Players of Spanish heritage or those who grew up in South American generally favour the clay courts, and often struggle to adapt to the grass courts. The surface is always pristine, and it leads to extremely quick exchanges, which can make it tough for players who are used to the slower courts. Always take a look at players who have enjoyed previous success on the grass courts, and I always look favourably on those players who have done some warm-ups in tournaments leading up to Wimbledon. It is a cut-and-dry rule, but some players enjoy this surface and tend to see these fast-courts as a help rather than a hindrance.
Stamina is Essential – The games come thick and fast at Wimbledon and I’d always side with a player who is relatively well-rested. Some matches can last for several hours, and it’s never ideal to be playing again within 48 hours of finishing their last. Some matches can also be carried over as a result of darkness falling, so any player who is forced to play over the course of two days should be opposed in the next round. Backing well-rested players is the best way of approaching these games.
Well Backed British Players Can be Dangerous – A number of British players will be entered into the draw, and they can be dangerous, especially with the home crowd behind them. If a British player is playing on court 1 or 2, and they are facing opposition who isn’t particularly mentally tough, it could be worth siding with the local.
Injuries Can Play Their Part – Players will receive a substantial amount of money just for competing in the first round of the tournament, so it is worth tunring up regardless of fitness. New rules stipulate that a player must complete the match in order to receive their payment, but it is enough to tempt some players. Any tennis star who hasn’t played much tennis in the run-up or is coming back from an injury lay-off, should be opposed in the opening round of the competition.
Where Can I Watch Wimbledon in the UK?
The BBC will be showing live round-the-clock coverage of the tournament throughout the two weeks. They will have action on BBC1, BBC2 and on the red button.
