Simon Hopper gives his top tennis picks for the biggest event of the year, the Wimbledon Championships. For all the best odds on every market, visit our dedicated Wimbledon betting centre…

Men’s Wimbledon

Recommended tennis betting tip: LAY ROGER FEDERER @ AROUND 3.7

Rafael Nadal: It’s hard to look past the Spaniard retaining his title this year. While he may have had a short time to prepare for the grass court season, this has never affected him in the past and he looked nigh-on invincible when defeating Roger Federer in the French Open final. He has only lost 6 times in the 2011 season, with 4 of these coming against Novak Djokovic, though the Spaniard does have a 2-0 record against the Serb on grass which could be significant. Nadal’s position at the head of the Wimbledon betting market is justified and I believe he should actually be a shorter price.

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Roger Federer: You can never write off the 6-time champion but it’s fair to say Federer will never go into another Wimbledon tournament as the favourite. Without a win since the Qatar Open in January, the Swiss maestro has already lost 3 times to Nadal and twice to Djokovic this season, while last year he failed to make the final for the first time since 2002. His loss to the Spaniard in the French Open final was as comprehensive as ever and it would take a significant reversal in fortune for Federer to lift his 7th title in SW19 this year.

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Novak Djokovic: The Serb is one of many people’s main Wimbledon picks for 2011 after an inspired season to date. An incredible 43-match winning streak was only ended by a superb Federer performance in the French Open semi-finals, though he has struggled on grass in the past. Djokovic has never got beyond the Wimbledon semi-finals, losing to some unheralded opponents in the process, while it’s difficult to know what mental effect his first defeat of the season will have as we approach the grass court calendar. His current price looks about right considering both his form in 2011 and his past record at this tournament.

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Andy Murray: He’s made the semi-finals in both 2009 and 2010 though Murray’s seeding could again be the problem with taking his Wimbledon odds this time around. The Scot was seeded #3 for last year’s tournament and as expected ran into Nadal in the semi-finals, where he succumbed in straight sets. This scenario could well unfold again this year and that is the main problem with supporting Murray until he rises in the world rankings. He has bowed out in the semi-finals or final in 4 of his last 6 Grand Slam appearances and until he learns to beat Nadal, Federer and Djokvoic in the latter stages of majors then he cannot be supported. Wimbledon predictions about Murray's success this year could well be overly patriotic.

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Juan Martin del Potro: The Argentinian is rated as good each-way value in many pundits’ Wimbledon predictions for 2011 though I would want a bigger price before getting involved. Remember, del Potro has never even made it beyond the 2nd round of Wimbledon and is still not back to his best after taking several months out of the game last year through injury. He put up a brave performance at the French Open but eventually bowed out to Djokovic in 4 sets and his seeding has dropped down to a very prohibitive level. I view him as more of a dangerous player rather than a genuine championship threat.

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Women’s Wimbledon

Recommended tennis betting tip: VERA ZVONAREVA @ 20/1

(*Note: Kim Clijsters was my original Wimbledon pick until she withdrew through injury, but Zvonareva now represents the best value.)

Maria Sharapova: Champion in 2004 and the age of 17, Sharapova has enjoyed a welcome return to form in 2011 and could be a contender once again. She won the Italian Open in May – her first WTA Tour win for almost a year – and made the semi-finals of the French Open which capped one of her best ever clay seasons. Her rise in the world rankings should ensure an easier than normal draw though with no Grand Slam win since 2008, there are still too many questions marks to make her Wimbledon betting odds worth backing.

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Serena Williams: Given she’s won the last 2 Wimbledon ladies singles championships, the credentials of Serena Williams are obvious. However, her preparations have been even more interrupted than usual due to injury. She played no part in the Australian or French Opens and hasn’t won a title since her triumph here in 2010. The 29 year-old only started training again in March and with a low seeding inevitable, a 5th Wimbledon title would represent one of her greatest achievements.

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Vera Zvonareva: Last year’s Wimbledon finalist is seeded #2 this year, having battled her way through from #21 in 2010, and the Russian’s Wimbledon odds look too big. She followed up her superb showing in SW19 by making the US Open final as well where she lost to Kim Clijsters (losing to the great Belgian in Flusing Meadows is absolutely no disgrace). The Russian then went on to make the semi-finals of the 2011 Australian Open and also has winning form this year after taking down the Qatar Open in February (beating world #1 Caroline Wozniacki in the final). Some may question her temperament in the latter stages of majors but she is one of the world’s most consistent performers (apart from on clay) and her odds represent good each-way value, especially with the draw being so open this year. She is my main Wimbledon tip for 2011.

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Petra Kvitova: An immensely talented 21 year-old, it would be no surprise to see the Czech youngster make the latter stages of the competition once more. She made her first big splash by making the semi-finals here 12 months ago, eventually losing to Serena Williams - taking her to a 1st set tie-break along the way. We’ve seen more flashes of brilliance in this season’s Australian and French Opens though I’d like to see more proven Grand Slam form before getting involved.

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Venus Williams: The woman who has dominated Wimbledon for much of the 21st century can never be written off. The five-time winner once looked unbeatable on grass but injuries have taken such a crippling toll on her season that it’s very difficult to envisage her adding a sixth championship this year. Her straight sets loss to Tsvetana Pironkova in last year’s quarter-finals was extremely disappointing and she hasn’t won a singles title anywhere since February 2010.

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