Oddsmakers aren't consistent on whether Rafael Nadal is the favorite or Roger Federer as the start date for Wimbledon 2011 nears.
Wimbledon 2011 starts on June 20th and the top two favorites in this year's tournament are Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, the two players on tour who have combined for the last eight titles at the All England Club.
While Federer has claimed six of those eight titles, Nadal has won two of the last three and importantly the current world number one has a 14 match winning streak going at the event as he won in 2008, did not play in 2009, and then won again in 2010.
Despite the fact that Federer has not won Wimbledon, with Nadal in the field, since 2007 the Swiss Maestro is considered the favorite with more than one sportsbook firm. Examples include
Bwin (2/1) and
Betfair (257/100) as their oddsmakers have both represented Federer as the most likely Wimbledon champion.
Nadal comes in as the favorite with most other sportsbooks including
bet365 (2/1) and
Stan James (9/4) while Novak Djokovic, following his loss to Federer at the French Open, is the third favorite
(bet365 3/1).
Roger Federer's run to the final at the French Open might best be viewed as a flash in the pan as opposed to something that tennis fans can now expect from the Swiss Maestro. Prior to Roland Garros Federer had not made the final in four straight Grand Slam tournaments, including two quarterfinal losses, and that is a noticeable dip in Grand Slam form as Fed is starting to lose the edge on the younger competition.
Djokovic, despite the winning streak, was ripe for the pickings at the French Open as he often turns in a bad loss at the Roland Garros grounds (2009 - l. to Kohlschreiber; 2010 - l. to Melzer).
Federer's weakness, as his 30th birthday looms, is now Grand Slams as they are long tournaments that require seven wins with each match a best of five set affair. Young players like Djokovic, Nadal, and Murray promise to have more energy late in the draw and they should give Federer all he can handle. While he can beat them still the prospect of having to beat two in a row is too large of a mouthful for even the 16 time Grand Slam winner to swallow.
Nadal should properly be regarded as the favorite with Djokovic the second favorite.
After Nadal, Djokovic, and Fed the favorites are as follows
(all bet365):
Andy Murray, 5/1
Juan Martin Del Potro, 16/1
Robin Soderling, 25/1
Tomas Berdych, 28/1
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 33/1
