Wimbledon Betting Guide 2020 – How to Bet Successfully

First hosted in 1877, Wimbledon is arguably the most prestigious tennis tournament. Wimbledon betting provides a variety of markets for punters to dabble in and register some serious winnings.

The Championships, Wimbledon (abbreviated to ‘Wimbledon') is the only Grand Slam played on lush green grass courts. Read our comprehensive guide for more this tournament's bet types, useful strategy tips, popular betting markets, the tournament's history and more. 

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Wimbledon 2021 Ante-Post Betting Odds

Wimbledon follows the French Open and is played over two weeks, usually beginning in early July. Winning at Wimbledon features in every tennis player’s bucket list, with the coveted silver being a true legend’s hallmark. Importantly, Wimbledon betting has gained currency among punters, considering the range of opportunities and markets that it offers.

However, Wimbledon 2020 stands cancelled, as was already announced in April by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The decision was reached unanimously in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected millions across the globe.

But the good news is that we have the ‘To Win Outright’ odds already available.

Understanding Wimbledon Betting

Ante-post Wimbledon betting odds are usually made available a few days after the ongoing year’s Wimbledon draws to a close. Finalists, semi-finalists and past winners are likely to be at the forefront.

While these odds could be affected by the results at the US Open, Australian and French Open, the most serious activity is usually witnessed over the short grass-court-season – comprising the Queen’s Club Championships (London) followed by the Halle Open (Germany) – leading up to Wimbledon.

The Queen’s Club Championships is hosted a fortnight before Wimbledon, and has been the men’s primary warm-up event. That said, some players might choose to head to the Halle Open. Both the events are part of the ATP World Tour 500 Series.

Best Wimbledon Betting Tips and Strategy

The following Wimbledon betting tips can prove to be handy:

Factor in the style of play

Big servers and quick on-court movers are undoubtedly better bets, considering the nature of the surface. That’s because grass is the fastest of all surfaces, where breaking service will always remain a challenge, no matter how slow or bouncier it has become of late.

Fast serves are still the most difficult to return, and that’s precisely why you should keep an eye out for big servers. That being said, offensive baseline players like Nadal and Djokovic have tasted sweet success at Wimbledon, with the former winning it twice and the latter having lifted the trophy five times.

Additionally, look out for players who can consistently hold their service games during the short grass-court season leading up to Wimbledon.

Back serve-and-volley players

You will find effective serve-and-volley players smacking their lips at the opportunity of playing on grass. Think about Martina Navratilova, or a Steffi Graf. In men’s tennis, it could be somebody with the brilliance of Boris Becker, or Pete Sampras, for that matter – you take your pick.

These players trust their powerful first serves and almost regularly approach the court to make it difficult for their rivals to attempt challenging passing shots. The serve-and-volley style of play has proven useful, particularly against defensive players standing on the baseline. Owing to the quickness of grass, serve-and-volley players get a significant amount of purchase from the surface.

Roger Federer, an eight-time Wimbledon champion, would often serve and volley when up against Nadal to break down the oft-gruelling games and physically-demanding rallies.

With Wimbledon betting, you must never ignore the impact of the surface. Probe into the players’ styles, considering your selection might have their work cut out against a seasoned, tall serve-and-volley player.

Follow the matches carefully

Men’s singles Grand Slam matches are played out in the ‘best of five’ format, where stamina and mental endurance have important roles to play. The reason is simple – matches often last beyond a couple of hours, especially in a battle of equals. Long, gruelling games take a lot out of players, particularly if they typically favour baseline play.

Remember the 2010 Wimbledon first-round match featuring John Isner and Nicolas Mahut?

You should always pay very close attention to matches as they progress, because players tend to become fatigued as they approach Wimbledon’s latter stages. For instance, consider Player 1, who has a big serve and runs through his points quickly. Thanks to his aggressive, serve-and-volley style, he hasn’t lost more than two sets, closing out most matches within the first three sets.

On the other side is Player 2, a strong yet defensive baseline player who relies on grinding rallies to break down his opponent. Chances are he will have played more sets (and spent more on-court hours) by the time both these players face each other at the latter stages. The fatigue could well come into play should the match go beyond a couple of hours.

All in all, remember that grass suits specific players more. For the otherwise excellent all-round player than Stan Wawrinka is, he’s only managed to reach the quarter-final at Wimbledon.

Even Rafael Nadal, for that matter, had picked up his two Wimbledon victories only at the prime of his career. In the meantime, he’s always enjoyed a dream run at the French Open, and secured his last two US Open trophies in 2017 and as recently in 2019 (the first coming in 2010 and 2013).

A handy strategy here would be to look out for players who haven’t had much success on grass. With the warm-up season now cut short, you can choose not to bet on players who don’t get much practice ahead of Wimbledon.

Understanding Tennis on Grass Courts

The key to Wimbledon betting and registering handsome wins is to understand the surface and how it plays out differently to the other two – clay and hard courts.

Grass has always been the fastest of every surface, with the ball bouncing relatively low compared to other surfaces. Short rallies still mark tennis on this type of court, while serve-and-volley players have traditionally been the most successful. However, certain events have brought about particular changes.

For starters, a heavier ball is now used to put the brakes on the speed of play. Secondly, the grass is now 100% ryegrass, a significant change from the erstwhile 70:30 mix of ryegrass and red fescue. Besides slowing down play further, this has led to a noticeable increase in the bounce of the ball while still being lower as compared to other courts.

Also, the speed of play is only a shadow of what has been in the past, with evidence pointing that the Australian Open might have had played faster in recent times.

Wimbledon Betting: Best Practices

Stated below are the fundamentals of sports betting and other practices tailored to Wimbledon betting. You can use this section as a general guideline:

Focus on value

Wimbledon betting (or betting on sports in general) isn’t only about predicting the outcome of a match. You cannot hazard a guess for the sake of it, and blame it on the unpredictability of the exercise should you lose your wager. It is advised that you don’t only go by the odds.

Understand that higher odds are only indicating a certain probability of the event unfolding in a particular way, something that might have no bearing on the actual results. The key to finding success in Wimbledon betting is to aim for that sweet spot where you would be at an advantage by finding a value bet.

Manage your money

An unimpressive day at betting is a rather common affair, considering luck does play a significant role (at least initially, when you’re just starting out and trying to put together a strategy). Keep in mind the fundamentals of bankroll management to never fall into the ‘bet trap’.

Set aside a sum for Wimbledon betting, and make sure that losing this amount (in the worst-case scenario) wouldn’t cripple your finances. Don’t be mistaken here – you aren’t starting with the fear of losing, but only making sure you are on safe footing should the bet not come up as predicted.

Understand that bigger wagers could create a ripple effect of losses if you end up losing a few in quick succession. Bad betting streaks are common; the idea is not to let this intimidate or discourage you, but instead be adequately prepared should push come to shove.

Place your bets online

Wagering on the internet has its share of benefits. Multiple bookmakers cover Wimbledon betting, and will almost always offer a variety of ‘extras’; these could include welcome bonuses, daily/weekly promotions and higher odds. It's worth remembering that at the end of the day, these betting sites are all vying for your attention. Keep an eye out for other value-added offers like bet boosters, loyalty programs, accumulators, and a range of promos specific to Wimbledon betting.

Check out CORAL’s promo codes for July 2020.

What are accumulators and how do they work?

Know your limit

Not only beginners but even the more seasoned bettors also make the mistake of placing far too many wagers simultaneously. The prospects are undoubtedly lucrative, with most bookmakers offering multiple matches for you to bet on across men’s and women’s draws. However, that doesn’t mean you have to throw caution to the winds.

The central principle to betting on Wimbledon is to not bite off more than what you can chew. Sure, it could be tempting to place three or four bets at long odds, hoping that the results turn up in your favour. But should you be doing that? Does it make a good value proposition for you, or are you merely letting your devil-may-care attitude get the better of you?

Remember that there is no harm in being enterprising; just make sure you don’t end up being reckless in the process.

Bide your time in choosing the market

Every year, Wimbledon throws open a range of betting avenues for you. While there’s the Ante-post market that represents a solid, long-term investment opportunity, betting on individual matches can bring value as well.

Ideally, you should focus on one betting market and come up with a defined strategy. That doesn’t mean you have to keep off the other markets, only that you’d do well by focusing on one.

Popular Wimbledon Betting Markets

Let us explore the major markets so that you know which one fits you best. While most of these involve individual matches, there is an Outright market as well:

Match Betting

Tennis Match Betting at Ladbrokes. (Source: Ladbrokes)

Also called Moneyline or Match Result, this is arguably the simplest form of tennis betting. All you have to do is pick a match and back the player you think would win. Before you proceed, probe into the players’ history and past performance at the Wimbledon, as well as their H2H records.

All you need to know about the best tennis betting sites, top tips and strategies.

You win the wager if the player you back wins the match. It's as simple as it sounds!

Set Betting

Tennis Set Betting at Ladbrokes. (Source: Ladbrokes)

If you think you can pull off right the Outright winner bet, then set betting can be a good side wager for you. This essentially involved predicting how many sets will take place in a match. Should you believe the players are not evenly balanced, and one of them is a sure favourite, you can back a 3-0 (straight sets) victory. You can also put your money on a 2-1 result or 3-2 (in the case of a grand slam), depending on how you think the players would fare in the match.

Betting on the set winner

Betting on the Tennis Set Winner at Coral. (Source: Coral)

Another simple wager, betting on the set winner requires you to back a player who you think would win a particular set.

Handicap

Betting on the Tennis Handicap at Coral. (Source: Coral)

Wimbledon matches can often be lopsided contests where one of the players is a runaway favourite. In a scenario like that, betting on the result of a match will not yield much. That’s because the odds on the favourite would be very low, while the chance of the underdog winning slim.

This is where Handicap Betting assumes significance. Here, the underdog starts with a definite advantage – either in sets or games – to compensate for the stark difference in their quality.

Know which sports work best with Handicap betting.

For example, think about Novak Djokovic – a five-time Wimbledon champion – taking on Stan Wawrinka, who has never progressed beyond the quarter-final at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Here, chances are you’d get unimpressive odds on Djokovic, considering he is expected to close out the match effortlessly.

But, should Djokovic be handicapped by 2.5 sets (-2.5), he’d have to win the match in three straight sets to offset the disadvantage. If Wawrinka even wins one or a couple of sets, Djokovic would lose the match (solely from a Wimbledon betting POV).

In this case, a Handicap puts you in a win-win situation. While Djokovic is the favourite, you’d now find longer odds on him since he is starting at a clear disadvantage. Alternatively, should you back Wawrinka, the chances of your wager coming through will be relatively higher since he is beginning with a definite advantage.

O/U Games or Sets

O/U Total Games Tennis Betting at Ladbrokes. (Source: Ladbrokes)

This is one of the more traditional Wimbledon betting markets. When betting on Over/Under Games, you are trying to predict whether a match will feature more than or below a certain number of games. Likewise, you can also guess whether a match would exceed a particular number of sets or be closed out below that line.

In this market, you don’t need to bother with who eventually wins the match. For you to win the wager, the number of games (or sets) played must tread above or below the limit, depending on your pick.

Outright Winner

As opposed to the other markets that are specific to individual matches at the Wimbledon, the Outright Winner market has got everything to do with the player who wins the tournament. In essence, it is a long-term betting opportunity. Make sure you are familiar with the Wimbledon betting odds before you dive headlong into this market.

The idea is simple – you win the wager if the player you back wins the trophy. Importantly, the odds are generally long, thereby allowing you to put your money on two or more players and still enjoy handsome winnings.

A Slice of History: Essential Wimbledon Traditions

What comes to mind when you think of Wimbledon? Besides the superlative quality of tennis on display, you’re probably thinking about strawberries or a shade of white so dazzling that you will have to reach out for a pair of shades.

These traditions are quintessential Wimbledon, and it is impossible to imagine the Championships without these. With that said, here’s a lowdown of the classic customs that have shaped Wimbledon into what it is today:

All-white dress code

At Wimbledon, white doesn’t mean cream or off-white. Back in the Victorian era, sweating was considered unbecoming for a gentleman or lady. That’s precisely why an all-white dress code was introduced to hide the sweat stains.

The tradition has since stuck and is followed to a T at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Several players have had issues with the authority over this rule; even somebody with the stature of Roger Federer was once asked to leave the court in 2013 when he sported a pair of shoes that had orange soles.

Here's how seriously this dress code is taken: any coloured undergarment that are or could be visible during play (even as a result of sweat) will not be allowed.

Strawberries ‘n’ cream

This appetising snack was first served in 1877, the inaugural year of Wimbledon. Today, it remains a crowd favourite and sells more than hotcakes (literally and figuratively)! On an average, 7000 litres of fresh cream and 28,000 kilos of strawberries are consumed annually over the two weeks at the Championships.

Pimm’s

We can thank James Pimm for this herb-based cocktail that was first served in the 1840s. As it became increasingly popular, Mr Pimm began to sell this drink the world over. The rest, they say, is Wimbledon history. So much so, that the first bar opened at Wimbledon in 1971.

Grass

The oldest tennis tournament in the world is still played on the surface where it all began: grass. An interesting bit of trivia here is that all the four Grand Slams had initially started on grass, with the French Open moving to clay, and the US and Australian Open being shifted to hard courts eventually.

Sponsor-free stadium

Sponsored hoardings and advertisement banners are strictly banned from the courts. The All England Lawn Tennis Club has, by desisting from overtly commercialising the stadium, been able to hold on to the Championships’ unique character.

Recent Wimbledon Champions

Men’s Singles

Women’s Singles

Most Successful Men at Wimbledon

Many men have tried, but only few have succeeded at etching their names at the altar of greatness. The Swiss maestro Roger Federer has been the most successful here, with a record eight titles. American Pete Sampras is a close second, having won seven times.

Let’s take a look at some of the Open Era greats with the most wins at the Championships:

Most Successful Women at Wimbledon

The Ladies’ Singles was introduced in 1884, and since then, we have been treated to some top-class tennis. With nine titles to her name, Martina Navratilova heads the list of all-time greats.

Here are six Open Era greats with the most wins at the Championships:

Epic Wimbledon Face-Offs

Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer, 2008 Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final

Some might disagree, but this final was one for the storybooks and rightly deemed the greatest match of all time. 2008 was the third time in succession that the Swiss virtuoso and his bitter rival had locked horns, with the former gunning for his sixth Wimbledon title in a row. But the Spaniard had other plans.

Champion: Rafael Nadal

Final score: 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 ^(5-7), 6-7 ^(8-10), 9-7

Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe, 1980 Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final

Hailed by tennis pundits and fans alike, this match is the stuff that legends are made of. Even before play began, the crowd was relentless at booing the mercurial, bandana-sporting American, who incidentally had been at his belligerent best over the fortnight. Tensions ran high as McEnroe saved five Championship points to force the match to the deciding fifth set.

However, the cool-as-a-cucumber Swede eventually clinched this thriller of a contest.

Champion: Bjorn Borg

Final score: 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7 ^(16-18), 8–6

John Isner vs. Nicolas Mahut, 2010 Wimbledon Men’s Singles, 1^st Round Match

It was the sheer drama and perseverance of both players that rightfully bagged the first-round match a spot in this hallowed list. Both serving behemoths were up against each other – Isner relying on his powerful smashes while Frenchman Mahut trusting his serve-and-volley game – with neither willing to concede an inch.

During that time, Wimbledon didn’t have a 5^th set tiebreaker rule. So something had to give. The match eventually closed out on the next day, with the deciding set reading 70-68 to Isner. 

Champion: John Isner

Final score: 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 ^(7-9), 7-6 ^(7-3), 70-68

Goran Ivanisevic vs. Pat Rafter, 2001 Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final

By 2001, Goran Ivanisevic had been the runner-up at Wimbledon on three occasions – 1992, 1994, and 1998. It was therefore high time that he made good of his ‘crowd-favourite’ tag. Before Wimbledon began, he was ranked as low as 125^th, and was drafted in as a wild card entrant.

The odds were stacked heavily against him, but the Croatian eventually beat the two-time US Open champion Rafter, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7, in a match that lasted a shade above three hours.

Champion: Goran Ivanisevic

Final score:  6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7

ThePuntersPage Final Say

This Wimbledon betting guide seeks to help you bet successfully on Wimbledon. We have compiled the top markets and provided tips and strategies that can help you make an informed decision. We suggest you read up our guide carefully.

That being said, we cannot guarantee success. It ultimately depends on the work that you put in, and more importantly, your ability to sniff out a value proposition. Be careful with your money; it is easy to go overboard and difficult to get back what you lose.

Finally, don’t forget to read our bookmaker reviews which cover in detail all the most important aspects of each of the best UK bookies.