Monday's Top Tips: Murray Up Against it Due to Difficult Draw at SW19

Defending champion Novak Djokovic gets proceedings underway at Wimbledon this afternoon and it would take a brave man to back against the seven-time champion.

With a remarkable 23 Grand Slam titles to his name the 4/7 odds on him adding a 24th aren’t too shabby.

It’s a measure of the Serb’s dominance that second in the betting Carlos Alcaraz is 7/2 then there’s a huge jump to 16/1 shot Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz took advantage of Djokovic’s absence at the US Open but it’s hard to see anyone coming out of the pack to stop the 36-year-old underlining his dominance with another win in London.

Every appearance at SW19 is a bonus for Andy Murray but his tournament could be short-lived this year after a nightmare draw sees him face a potential second round clash with 5th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

First he’ll need get past British wildcard, Ryan Peniston, with whom he often practices, but the two-time champion should have enough left in his locker to proceed.

Murray and Tsitsipas share a win each in their previous meetings and the Scot won their last clash, on grass, in Stuttgart, 7-6, 6-3 but the Greek had the upper hand at the US Open, winning by the odd set in five in 2021.

It’s a dangerous tactic to write the Scotsman off but with 12 years on him, over a potential five sets, Tsitsipas will be as tough as it gets for an ageing Murray and that could see him bow out in the second round, priced at 11/10 with Bet365.

In the Women’s tournament things are less clearcut. World No.1 Iga Swiatek is 9/4 favourite to add to her US Open and French Open titles. The Pole has previously tasted success at Wimbledon, winning the Girls’ Junior tournament in 2018. It’s surely only a matter of time before she wins the big one.

Illness disrupted reigning champion Elena Rybakina’s warm-up plans last week, forcing her to withdraw from Eastbourne but she’s still a danger at 15/4.

Of the outsiders Coco Gauff could be worth watching after an impressive showing at Eastbourne. Still only 19, the American has plenty of time to land her first slam title.

She has the 6th most favourable draw according to IBM’s AI Draw Analysis and would only play one top ten seed (admittedly, a tough one in a shape of Swiatek) en route to the final. At 14/1 the number 7 seed could be worth a small interest.

Super Singles

• Andy Murray to be knocked out in second round 11/10 Bet365
• Coco Gauff 14/1 ewBet365