Djokovic is worthy Wimbledon fav as rivals come unstuck on grass
Published:As Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal fall to much lesser opponents on grass, those thinking of backing the next men’s Wimbledon champion should seriously consider shelling a few pennies on Novak Djokovic.
The six-time major winner is already installed as the 7/4 favourite to add to his 2011 SW19 crown and given the latest results of his two main rivals, this a price worth snaffling.
Fresh from being dismantled by Nadal in the French Open semis, Murray was widely expected to go on and defend his Queens Club title, only to see his 19-match unbeaten run on grass come to an abrupt end in the third round against 35-year-old Radek Stepanek in straight sets.
Although he will now have more time to work with new coach Amelie Mauresmo ahead of his Wimbledon defence, the Brit’s ideal preparations would have been more competitive match practice on his favourite surface.
Meanwhile, Nadal’s grass-court campaign got off to the worst possible start following French Open glory, crashing out to world number 85 Dustin Brown 6-4, 6-1 at the Gerry Weber Open, as the Spaniard failed to adapt to the change in surface.
Murray and Nadal are priced up at 3/1 and 9/2 respectively, to win the third Grand Slam of the year.
Since taking part in that epic Wimbledon final in 2013, Djokovic’s hunt for a seventh major has remained agonisingly out of reach, as he’s since made the finals of the US Open and the French only to lose both times.
Therefore the Serb grows hungrier by the tournament to regain that Grand Slam-winning feeling and although he lost to Nadal at the French, he’d just strung together a four-match winning streak over him.
Djokovic has also defeated Murray on hard courts in 2014 and in four out of the last five meetings all told.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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