Wimbledon 2022: WTA Women’s Singles preview

The Women’s Singles event at Wimbledon promises to be as competitive as ever, and ahead of the draw for the tournament, Dan Weston takes an in-depth look at the main contenders for the title…

WTA Wimbledon 2022 predictions: Will Iga Swiatek impress on grass?

Having won the French Open recently, and currently on an unbeaten run of 35 matches, the main question ahead of the Women’s Singles at Wimbledon is whether anyone can beat Iga Swiatek. The Pole is currently trading at 2.060* with Pinnacle, with the caveat that she must play for all current prices to be accepted.

However, the grass courts could well be a leveller for the field against Swiatek, and while her odds-on market price looked to offer some value prior to the French Open, a bigger price doesn’t appeal nearly as much on grass.

WTA Wimbledon 2022 predictions: Who could challenge Swiatek?

The Outright market clearly values some of the older, but successful grass court players with the likes of Karolina Pliskova, Petra Kvitova, and Angelique Kerber all towards the top of the prices. 

Their status, though, is drawn into question considering that they’ve all had some issues this year - Pliskova has struggled to even win back-to-back matches consistently, while Kvitova has had injury issues and has lost six of her last seven matches, and Kerber is yet to play in a grass warm-up event so far this season, so it would take a rather large change in fortune for any of these players to be fighting for the title.

Certainly, it would be a stretch to see any of that trio challenge Swiatek and several others. Swiatek still lacks grass pedigree, having never made it past the fourth round at Wimbledon and has made little impact in the warm-up events. But of course, she is head and shoulders above any other player on tour on other surfaces.  As I said above, though, the surface should give others more than a fighting chance and I think it’s pretty brave to consider her price of just above even money as any value.

WTA Wimbledon 2022 predictions: Jabeur, Raducanu, and other contenders

Of course, the draw, which is taking place later this week, will dictate plenty. However, players who look well-set ahead of that draw include Ons Jabeur 6.950* and Maria Sakkari 40.810*.

Jabeur has had a rapid rise up the rankings in the last year or two and currently stands at number four in the world. She lifted the trophy at the Grass Court Championship Berlin last week with impressive wins over Belinda Bencic and Cori Gauff en route to winning that title. The Tunisian was shocked in the first round of the French Open by Magda Linette, however, after impressing in the warm-up events, so nothing can be a given – but if you want to look for a player who is in form and doing well on grass, look no further.

World number six Sakkari has also had a good year, and has picked up a number of grass victories already this season, so it wouldn’t surprise me if she had a good tournament too, while if Danielle Collins is fit, she might also be capable of a strong run in the tournament, particularly in the quicker conditions that are anticipated.

Garbine Muguruza also is one to keep an eye out for, with the Spanish player priced up at 17.710*. She’s another player with a strong grass pedigree, and while I don’t quite put her in the Pliskova/Kvitova/Kerber bracket, she could still threaten. It will be fascinating to see how she does this week in the Eastbourne event as she prepares for Wimbledon.

Finally, British hopes will no doubt be with Emma Raducanu, who is priced at 21.190*. However, the Brit has really struggled since her epic US Open victory last season and retired last week with a rib injury against Viktorija Golubic in Nottingham. Given this, and a big downturn in serve numbers this season for Raducanu, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if she was avoided in the market at her current price.

You can also check out Dan’s preview of the Men’s Singles tournament at this year’s Wimbledon.

*Odds subject to change

 

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