Wimbledon Championships Betting Tips

The 2008 Wimbledon Championships are sure to be a closely contested affair, yet again. There are several players who have the skill and ability to pull off one of the most illustrious wins of the international tennis circuit, but it is always important to look at all the variables of the tournament.

It is the only Grand Slam event still to be played on grass, and like clay, it takes a bit of getting used to. The grass at the All England Club traditionally favours a serve and volley game. Players who use serve and volley tactics on grass will be at a distinct advantage because their serve will be quick enough to force the receiver to play it defensively, rather than attacking it, as can happen on slower surfaces. This in turn improves their effectiveness at the net.

Playing on grass is diametrically opposed to playing on clay, and consequently clay court specialists, like Rafael Nadal, do not do as well on grass. Conversely, Roger Federer, who has won five successive Wimbledon titles and makes no secret of the fact that his preferred surface is grass, has never won at the French Open.

What is worth bearing in mind is that fewer players meet the description of grass court specialist, so effectively there should be fewer top ranked players who could claim the titles up for grabs. Roger Federer, Venus Williams, Pete Sampras, Tim Henman and Boris Becker are all considered grass court specialists, and apart from Henman, they have all won at centre court at least once.

Justine Henin is in the best form of her life, but what has to be taken into consideration is that she has never claimed the ladies’ singles title at Wimbledon. She has won the French Open four times in her career, and is virtually unbeatable on clay, but her record on grass speaks for itself – of her 39 singles wins only three were on grass.

Maria Sharapova, on the other hand, has only reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros – her poorest performance at the Grand Slams. She has won both Wimbledon and the US Open and was a finalist at the Australian Open. To date, Sharapova has never won a title on clay.

Serena Williams, another recent Wimbledon winner, has a more impressive overall record, indicating that she has the ability to play well on all surfaces. She has won all four Grand Slams more than once, apart from the French Open. Although she is primarily an offensive baseline player, she has the added advantage of having a very strong defensive game as well. Her power serves allow her to dictate proceedings, and she is fast and athletic around the court, allowing her to dominate on virtually any surface.

Another variable that has to be factored in, and a good Wimbledon Championship betting tip, is the weather. Rain delays are as part of the tournament as strawberries and cream. It takes great mental strength to be able to wait for a match to proceed after a rain delay, and those players who are mentally tough and can control their nerves, normally have a fighting chance.

The draw will also have an effect on the players. Back-to-back matches with the top seeds can have a huge physical impact on the player, so physical fitness has to be an important variable. Scot, Andy Murray is seen to have a problem with fitness levels, particularly in long matches, and on the flip side, players like Serena and Venus Williams, who have purposefully built on their physiques and fitness levels, will always have the upper hand during epic matches.

It is not only current form that will dictate who the stars of the 2008 Wimbledon Championships will be.