It’s nearly that time again. Grass court season is upon us as we count down the days until the start of this season’s Wimbledon championships. With Andy Murray seemingly out of contention due to a career-ending injury, it’s down to the chasing pack to make their mark on the mens tournament that has been dominated by the “top four” since 2002. It’s incredible to think. In the previous 16 editions of the tournament, only Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have held aloft the gold trophy.
This year feels like the most likely that we will witness a member of the “new breed” breaking through into contention. The likes of Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Dominic Thiem have all made a name for themselves on the ATP Tour in recent seasons, but are still awaiting the leap into Grand Slam waters; Thiem has been the closest to achieving this goal, in reaching two French Open finals.
Grass court is a different proposition to most players. It’s a short season on the circuit, with limited practice and events for all players to adapt their games to the demands that come with it. Along with the different tactics that need to be deployed during the grass court season, beating two of either Federer, Nadal or Djokovic is usually necessary to scoop a trophy. All three have dominated this surface in previous years, with Federer’s name becoming synonymous with the Wimbledon Championships.
20-year-old Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas could be the man to come closest to breaking the hoodoo of the Wimbledon championships. With two titles already this season, Tsitsipas became the first Greek to reach the fourth round of the tournament in the Open era last season – a feat not to be underestimated at his young age.
His ambitions are clear on the circuit, with a fearlessness crucial to upsetting the applecart on the biggest of stages. His service game is well suited to the grass with a variety of attacks coming from the baseline; the youngster has also shown his proficiencies at the net, with a nimbleness on court crucial on the testing surface.
Priced at 19/1 to win the tournament, it may be one or two seasons too early for the 20-year-old, however, finding a market closer to the start of the championship to see him reach the semi-finals is sure to deliver value.
Splitting the big three to find the 2019 winner is the biggest test. Djokovic heads up the market at 8/5 to win his fifth Wimbledon crown, but with Nadal fresh off the back of another French Open win, 91/20 is tempting when looking at the Catalan. The draw is likely to pit Nadal and Federer in the same half of the draw, so a meeting in the semi-finals is a distinct possibility. This gives Novak the edge in a clearer route to the final, although the Serbian will have to be wary of tripping over the group of wannabees that will be swiping at his heels.
Djokovic has reached the final in his last two tournaments, winning once against Tsitsipas and losing once to Nadal. He’s arguably the form player on the tour at the moment, and with a love for the Wimbledon grass, a 8/5 shot is great value for another Grand Slam.
Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon @ 8/5 (MarathonBet)
Stefanos Tsitsipas to win Wimbledon @ 19/1 (MarathonBet)
Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the semi-finals @ TBC
