The 2021 Wimbledon women’s singles championship will begin on June 28 at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in London, England. After being cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus, Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam tennis tournament of the season, is back.
Simona Halep is the defending champion having beaten Serena Williams in the finals in 2019. The big question is whether or not the overall favorite, Naomi Osaka, will even play. Osaka pulled out of the Berlin WTA 5000, also a grass court tournament, this week. Her status for Wimbledon is up in the air. Here’s a look at the odds, picks, and top contenders for the Wimbledon women’s singles title.
The Favorite?
When the Wimbledon odds were released, Osaka was given +1000 odds, but they have since shortened to +550. It’s interesting because Osaka pulled out of the French Open and has never advanced past the third round at Wimbledon.
She did win this year’s Australian Open and that win came on the heels of a U.S. Open victory at the end of the 2020 season. With her pulling out of the Berlin event, will she play in London? If she does, it’s hard to say where her head and heart will be.
Top Contenders
World No. 1-ranked Ashleigh Barty also opened at +1000 to win at Wimbledon. Barty’s odds have shortened as well all the way to +650. Again, it’s interesting that Barty is right behind Osaka on the board.
Barty had to pull out of the French Open due to a hip injury. That wasn’t her only injury this season. She was forced to retire at the Italian Open with an arm injury.
Williams, who has won Wimbledon seven times, is listed at +750 to win this time around. She is 39 years old, but remember, she did make the final in 2019. Her last win at Wimbledon came in 2016 just after she had won in 2015. She is still one of the world’s best grass court players.
Halep is the defending champion, but she also had to withdraw from the French Open this year. Despite the calf injury she suffered, Halep has been training and preparing for the fortnight in London and is one to watch at +1200.
Petra Kvitova is another contender to watch. She is a two-time Wimbledon champ having won in 2011 and 2014. She is 31 and was seeded No. 11 at this year’s French Open. She too was forced to withdraw with an ankle injury. Kvitova is given +900 odds to win.
The other top contenders include Garbine Muguruza (+1000), who was upset in the first round of the French Open, and Bianca Andreescu (+1000), who is still coming back from last year’s knee injury.
The Longshot
One of the world’s best doubles players, Barbora Krejcikova is riding the wave of her upset win at the French Open. Krejcikova beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets to win her first-ever Grand Slam singles title.
With that win, Krejcikova became the first woman since Mary Pierce in 2000 to complete the singles/doubles sweep at Roland Garros.
The Pick
This field is wide open. Too many of the favorites have suffered recent injuries. If Halep is healthy, she could return to the final where it’s likely she would face Williams again. Williams’ age is a concern, but she is still extremely good on grass. Maybe it’s her swan song. Back Williams at +750 for the win.
BEST BET: WILLIAMS +750
