Wimbledon: men's outright betting preview, tips & TV details

Defending champion Novak Djokovic is different class to his rivals on grass

Novak Djokovic could claim a fifth Wimbledon titleCredit: Matthew Stockman

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Despite all being in their thirties, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer continue to dominate at Grand Slam level and it should come as no surprise to punters that bookmakers are going 20-1 bar the big three at Wimbledon.

The 2016 US Open won by Stan Wawrinka was the last time a Grand Slam crown was lifted by someone else and the legendary trio have shared the last ten majors between them.

The all-time greats have won 14 of the last 16 titles at the All England Club - the sidelined Andy Murray claimed the other two - and the younger generation have not yet discovered how to bridge the gap.

Top tip
Novak Djokovic 11-8

Novak Djokovic ended a two-year Grand Slam drought when winning Wimbledon for a fourth time last year and the sensational Serb can make it number five with the draw in his favour.

Injuries and personal issues derailed Djokovic following his 2016 French Open triumph, causing him to fall outside of the top 20, and there were fears he would never win at Grand Slam level again.

But the Serb, who previously held the number one ranking for 223 weeks and completed a career Grand Slam when striking at Roland Garros three years ago, is too good to keep down and like all greats he bounced back with a vengeance.

Djokovic looked every bit the player who had dominated the men's game earlier this decade when regaining his All England Club title last summer and subsequent successes at the US Open and the Australian equivalent have franked the feeling.

The 32-year-old dropped just four sets in recording wins in New York and Melbourne and there was no shame in exiting at the semi-final stage at the French Open recently.

Djokovic was edged out in a five-set thriller by Dominic Thiem in the French capital but clay is by far the Serb’s weakest surface, while it is Thiem’s favourite.

Only one of Djokovic’s 15 Grand Slam titles have been recorded on the Parisian clay, so a run to the last four, which included a straight-sets defeat of Alexander Zverev, was an excellent effort and an improvement on the year before.

The Serb could only make the quarter-finals at Roland Garros in 2018, where he was beaten by Italian Marco Cecchinato, yet that didn’t stop him winning at Wimbledon a month later.

Djokovic is the right favourite and his price looks even more reasonable given his two market rivals, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, are drawn on the opposite half.

Thiem, 2017 runner-up Marin Cilic and last year’s semi-finalist John Isner - three potential dangers - are also housed away from the Serb, giving the number one seed the sweetest of routes.

Djokovic opted not to include an ATP tournament in his Wimbledon preparations, instead electing to play in exhibition events, but a generous early schedule can help him play himself into contention.

It is difficult to pinpoint any major concerns for Djokovic until the semi-finals. Big things are expected of teenage sensation Felix Auger-Aliassime but it is perhaps too early in his development to suggest he can dump out the world number one if they meet in the fourth round.

Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas are his likely quarter-final opponents but while they are improving, the younger generation still have to prove their Grand Slam pedigree.

Players with a big serve are always dangerous to underestimate on grass and last season’s runner-up Kevin Anderson - beaten 6-2 6-2 7-6 by Djokovic - and Milos Raonic are two who could be lurking in the last four.

But Djokovic is the best returner in the game and, where others struggle, he simply thrives. A place in the final looks his for the taking.

A battle for silverware with old foes Federer or Nadal shouldn’t faze him, either. The Serb has had Federer’s measure in recent times, winning eight of their last ten meetings - including their last two duels at Wimbledon - while he has won each of his last nine encounters with Nadal that have not been played on clay.

Other selection
Novak Djokovic v Roger Federer final 3-1

With Djokovic strongly fancied to come through the top half of the draw and potential winners few and far between, it could be worth keeping things simple and backing Federer to renew their rivalry in the final.

The Swiss superstar will by no means have things easy in a star-studded bottom half but his route is considerably easier than Nadal’s.

While the seasoned Spaniard could be in line to face Nick Kyrgios, Denis Shapovalov and Cilic before the quarter-finals, Federer has fewer concerns now his potential fourth-round opponent Borna Coric has pulled out with a back injury.

Federer, whose Wimbledon preparations saw him secure silverware in Halle, should therefore ease into the quarter-finals, where Isner would be the biggest worry.

Federer was beaten in a marathon match by big-serving Anderson at the semi-final stage last season and Isner’s similar weapons would clearly ask questions of the 37-year-old.

However, Isner’s year has been blighted by injury - he hasn’t been in action since breaking his foot in March’s Miami Open final defeat to Federer - and his fitness is taken on trust.

Were Federer to meet Nadal in a semi-final clash of the titans, the Spaniard would have had to work much harder to get there and that could be the telling factor.

Federer is the greatest grass-court player of all time with eight Wimbledon titles, the latest coming in 2017, and this may be one of his final opportunities to add to his illustrious list of achievements.

Nadal has won only one of their last six encounters and that sole success came at the French Open, a major he has made his own with a record 12 titles.

Others to note
Alexander Zverev

The talented German has yet to live up to his billing at Grand Slam level with two quarter-final appearances at the French Open his best efforts. He has all the tools to reach the top of the game but his poor temperament can be his downfall.

Dominic Thiem

The Austrian ace is a two-time Grand Slam finalist but both performances were posted on his preferred surface at the French Open. He is a clay-court specialist and he has it all to prove on grass - he was a first-round casualty 12 months ago.

Milos Raonic

The giant Canadian is a danger to all if fully wound up as his powerful serve is a serious weapon. He has made at least the quarter-final stage in four of the last five years, but injuries continue to be an issue and he could only make the last eight against a weak field at Queen’s Club.

Kevin Anderson

The big-serving South African was a surprise finalist last year and being drawn in the same half as Djokovic makes a repeat bid unlikely. He was beaten by Gilles Simon in the second round at Queen’s Club last week but he comes into his own in five-set matches and could serve his way to the semis.

Marin Cilic

A viable outsider who made the final in 2017. However, his draw means he may have to do things the hard way by beating Nadal, Federer and Djokovic and that tempts enthusiasm, particularly given his injury struggles this season.

Recommendations
N Djokovic
3pts 11-8 general
N Djokovic v R Federer final
1pt 3-1 bet365, Paddy Power