Wimbledon, among the most prestigious tournaments in tennis, is set to begin on June 27. The draw is out, allowing fans and bettors to consider odds and eye potential matchups in subsequent rounds. The field doesn’t include Ashleigh Barty, who has retired since winning last year’s Wimbledon tournament. However, Serena Williams received a wild card entry to join the 2022 Wimbledon field and makes her return to the All England Club.
Williams last participated in a competitive singles match during the 2021 Wimbledon tournament. The rust is a concern, and sportsbooks have factored that into Serena’s odds to win this year’s event at the All England Club.
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Williams’ first match is on Monday, June 27 against Harmony Tan of France. Tan, ranked 113th in the world, is making her Wimbledon debut. One can only imagine what the weight of the moment will be for Tan. However, from a wagering perspective, bettors should pause before blindly assuming Williams will advance. Given her long lay-off, there is naturally the challenge of finding a good rhythm. That doesn’t happen overnight, but Williams began that process in doubles play at Eastbourne.
Williams is not being priced among the favorites which isn’t a surprise. On the Wimbledon oddsboards at DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars, she is priced squarely in the “sleeper” range to lift the trophy.
Those inclined to look ahead can eye potential matchups between Williams and No. 32 seed Sara Sorribes Tormo in the second round. If Williams prevails in that match, a third-round tilt with No. 6 seed Karolina Pliskova could await.
Serena Williams’ Wimbledon 2022 Odds
Iga Swiatek (+160, DraftKings), Ons Jabeur (+900, FanDuel), and Coco Gauff (+1300, DraftKings) are the 2022 Wimbledon favorites. Naomi Osaka was among the group of top challengers, but she withdrew from the tournament with an Achilles injury. Serena, who counts seven Wimbledon singles titles among her 23 Grand Slams, is offered at lengthy +3000 odds at FanDuel.
| Sportsbook | DraftKings | FanDuel | Caesars: Promo Code TODAY15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serena Williams Odds | +1800 | +3000 | +1800 |
Williams’ odds are understandable considering her nearly year-long absence from competitive play, among other factors. An ankle injury forced Williams out of the 2021 tournament, and she’ll need to find her top gear in short order.
FanDuel offers Serena at +2900 to win the tournament without losing a set.
Williams is also 40, an age virtually unheard of on the professional tennis circuit. Her ability to continue making her presence felt is a testament to her all-time greatness.
Is There A Case For Serena Williams Wagers?
Working in Serena’s favor is the grass playing surface at Wimbledon. The fast track rewards those with speed and power. While the quality of speed that Williams brings to the court at this stage of her career is up for debate, her power should still very much serve as a factor.
Rennae Stubbs, a coach, ESPN analyst, and former player, stops short of putting her chips on Williams, but she echoes the benefits of grass.
“Tennis-wise it’s not going to be easy obviously, having not played a match since Wimbledon last year,” Stubbs said. But grass definitely helps her, mainly because the points won’t be very long.”
Also working in Williams’s favor is Wimbledon’s ban of Russian and Belarussian players. That leaves out a number of quality contenders, including Aryna Sabalenka and Daria Kasatkina, the WTA’s No. 5 and No. 12 ranked players, respectively.
Williams has motivation deeper than simply bouncing back from last year’s first-round exit. She trails Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam titles by one. The odds posted across the industry’s top sportsbooks don’t paint the picture of a Serena Williams championship run, but it’s risky to count out a serial winner, especially considering some of the factors playing in her favor.
Women’s Wimbledon Betting History
Serena won the 2007 Wimbledon women’s singles title after entering the tournament at +1300, per SportsOddsHistory.com. None of her other six championships saw her priced at longer than +335 pre-tournament.
Longshots and sleepers have won this event with some frequency. Sofia Kenin cashed at 66-to-1 odds in 2020, Osaka was +1325 as the champion in 2019, and Angelique Kerber rewarded underdog bettors to the tune of +3300 in 2016.
In fact, of the nine most recent Wimbledon women’s champs, five were +1000 or longer heading into Round 1.
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