The best tennis player in history will take on Wimbledon’s biggest underdog when Roger Federer walks on centre court with Marcus Willis shortly before 6pm.
One has a net worth of $350 million and the other charges £30 per hour for a lesson. And this is what makes the annual spectacle at SW19 so special. Federer is 1/100 to beat him, so match betting isn’t an option but I for one, will be glued.
Reigning world No 1 Novak Djokovic is the same price to beat Adrian Mannarino, so I am going to look beyond the main names to get some value.
One of the first round shocks was crowd pleaser Gael Monfils being beaten by fellow Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. He has progressed to face American Steve Johnson for Round 2, and the odds are stacked against him.
Chardy may not have fulfilled the promise that comes with being a former boys Wimbledon Champion but the 29-year-old world No 34 is relatively consistent and no stranger to third round contests in Grand Slams.
Johnson was in need of a winning streak only to hit form at exactly the right on time, arriving here fresh off his first ATP title victory in Nottingham. While Johnson looks the likelier of the two to improve in this match, the experience of Chardy might shine through so I’m backing the outsider of the pair at 6/4.
Taking on her 19th Wimbledon tournament, 36-year-old Venus Williams will play youngster Maria Sakkari later this evening, who celebrates her 21st birthday in a couple of weeks.
While Venus bids for her sixth tournament victory, Sakkari amazingly only played on grass in the qualifiers but her freshness may pose a problem for Venus. I think the 3/1 on offer for this to go to three sets looks worth taking, while I think 11/2 for the Greek debutante looks a little over priced.
