Wimbledon 2019: winner predictions and betting odds

The Championships Wimbledon

When: Monday 1 July until Sunday 14 July
Where: All England Club, Wimbledon, London, SW19
Prize pot: £38m
How to watch on TV: live on the BBC

The third grand slam of the season starts on 1 July with the world’s top tennis stars heading to the All England Club for the 2019 Wimbledon championships.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Germany’s Angelique Kerber return to SW19 as the defending champions and both will be looking to retain their respective men’s and women’s singles titles.

World No.1 Djokovic is a four-time winner at Wimbledon and according to the bookies he is favourite to reign again in 2019.

Usual suspects, eight-time champion Roger Federer and two-time winner Rafael Nadal, are also tipped to do well, as are Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev.

Spaniard Nadal, the world No.2 but third seed at Wimbledon, predicts that there could be some surprises. He said: “There are young people who are playing well and we have to see how they compete in Wimbledon.

“It’s a special tournament, different from the others, there are more options for surprises and that makes it a unique tournament.

“Many players get there playing their first game on the surface, so it is a bit more incognito.”

Barty in awe of the All England Club

New women’s world No.1 Ashleigh Barty won her first grand slam at the French Open and she is favourite for the women’s singles title at Wimbledon.

The 23-year-old Australian can’t wait to play on the hallowed turf. She said: “It’s incredibly unique, there’s no place like it. Every time you walk into the All England Club, I still look around in awe. It’s just incredible.”

According to the bookies Barty leads the betting odds ahead of seven-time winner Serena Williams and defending champion Kerber.

Edmund eyes glory

With Andy Murray only set to play in the doubles the BBC reports that the British men’s singles focus will fall on Kyle Edmund.

The 30th seed has never got past round three but he is confident of contending for the title.

Edmund, 24, said: “I believe that. I know I have the game for it. There’s a point where you really have to start believing it if you want to do it and I’ve really started to believe it over the last few years.”

Wimbledon men's final Fifa World Cup final 2018

Predictions: who will win the titles?

Former British No.1 Greg Rusedski, Metro: Roger Federer

“I still think it’s the ‘Big Three’ this year. Federer is my favourite. Rafa if he gets to the second week becomes dangerous and then Novak, defending champion. I see one of those three guys winning but with Federer with the slight edge at the moment.”

The Daily Telegraph: Novak Djokovic/Karolina Pliskova

“Novak Djokovic’s ambition of simultaneously holding all four grand slam singles titles was dashed by Dominic Thiem in their weather-hampered French Open semi-final earlier this month but the Serbian remains the leading contender to defend his title at SW19. In the women’s draw, there are injury doubts hanging over two of the leading contenders in Serena Williams and Petra Kvitova. Ashleigh Barty will look to follow up her maiden major at Roland Garros with victory at Wimbledon, but we’re going to plump for world No.3, Karolina Pliskova.”

The Roar: Roger Federer/Ashleigh Barty

“The Swiss maestro [Federer] did well to advance to the semi-finals of the French Open, where he again found the Spaniard [Nadal] a step too far. Nonetheless, it proved that he still has what it takes to take on the best on his least preferred surface of clay. On the grass courts, where he is most comfortable, I have him going all the way and winning a 21st major title.

“She [Barty] was due to play in Eastbourne this week but withdrew due to an arm injury that also forced her out of a small clay court tournament in Strasbourg the week prior to her French Open success. Despite this setback, I think Barty can go all the way in what will be her first major as world No.1.”

Jakob Haugerud, Last Word on Tennis: Novak Djokovic

“Given his form over the last year, and being the reigning Wimbledon champion, it seems fair to place the Serb as the favourite to win the title. However, it really is a toss up between the Big Three.”