If the first two Grand Slam tennis events were any indication, the 2021 Wimbledon men’s singles title is Novak Djokovic’s to lose. He is the world’s No. 1-ranked player and he has been absolutely unstoppable thus far in 2021.
After not being played in 2020 due to the coronavirus, the 2021 Wimbledon Championships will get underway on Monday, June 28 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, United Kingdom.
After an exciting French Open victory on clay, Djokovic and the rest of the men’s field will battle to see who is the best on grass. Here’s a look at the odds, picks, and top contenders.
Overwhelming Favorite
Not only is he the world’s No. 1 player, Djokovic has won the first two legs of the Grand Slam – Australian Open and French Open. He also has five Wimbledon titles to his credit including each of the last two (2018 and 2019). Of the last six Wimbledon events played, Djokovic owns four titles.
Djokovic’s dominance is reflected in his odds to win in London. He checks in as a +125 favorite. Next in line is Rafael Nadal at +600. That’s a pretty large margin. To say that Wimbledon 2021 is Djokovic’s to lose might be an understatement.
The Top Contenders
Djokovic just beat Nadal, the world’s No. 2 player, in the semifinals of the French Open. Nadal is the world’s premier clay court player, but Djokovic got the best of him at Roland Garros.
Nadal has won at Wimbledon before. He took the title in 2008 and in 2010 but had a long dry spell before making the semifinals in 2018 and 2019.
Roger Federer (+800) has long been considered the world’s best men’s player on grass. Federer has won a total of 19 grass court championships, including eight at Wimbledon. He won five straight from 2003 to 2007, but he hasn’t won in London since 2017. Federer is also 39 years old and is not the same player he was even four years ago.
The other contender in the mix is 6-foot-6-inch Russian Daniil Medvedev. A strong baseline player, Medvedev is suited for play on grass. He has never made it past the third round at Wimbledon, but at 25 this could be his year. Medvedev is listed at +700 to win.
The Longshot
It’s hard not to mention Andy Murray when talking about Wimbledon. Murray won the event in 2013 and 2016, but since that 2016 win he made the quarterfinals in 2017 and then didn’t play in 2018 or 2019.
Wimbledon 2016 was Murray’s last Grand Slam win and the 34-year-old is still trying to recover from an injury. That’s why he’s listed at +7000 to win Wimbledon 2021.
The Pick
Nadal is the world’s best on clay. He hasn’t won a grass court title since 2015. Federer isn’t the same player at 39.
Djokovic is just dominant. Yes, he had to come back and beat Stefano Tsitsipas (+900) to win the French Open, but he’s just better than everyone else. He’s still at plus-money, but he won’t be for long when he starts chewing through his side of the bracket. Grab him now while you can.
BEST BET: Djokovic +125
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