22 Jun 2009

Wimbledon 2009: Finding the value in the women's tournament

Charlotte Cook takes a look at the current state of women's tennis in an attempt to find the value in the women's tournament as Wimbledon 2009 starts in earnest.

You could almost be forgiven for forgetting that female tennis players are set to grace Wimbledon's Centre Court with their presence over the next two weeks. After all, the large majority of newspapers, blogs, and forums have been saturated exclusively with detailed discussions about the intricacies of the men's tournament. Will Andy Murray reign victorious in front of his adoring home fans? Will Rafael Nadal overcome his troublesome knee injury and provide tennis fans with the chance to watch a repeat of last year's majestic final against Federer?

Nobody really seems to care about the prospects of the Williams sisters, Sharapova, Jankovic, or indeed any of the female players set to compete at SW19. The women's game has long been plagued by controversy over issues such as financial rewards, the tedious discussion of which undoubtedly infects the pure enjoyment of the sport from the fans' point of view.

Further concerns over the long-term ambition, drive, and talent of players at the upper echelons of the women's game have tended to dominate the sport pages of the papers when focus has fallen on female involvement in the tennis world; articles such as these provide damning contrasts to the excited hype of the men's tournament build-up.

However, looking beneath all the controversy and complaining, there are several prospects set to compete at Wimbledon who may yet provide both good value for bettors and the boost needed to propel the women's game back into the public eye.

The Williams sisters are currently favorites, with Serena available to back at odds of [3.8] and Venus' odds standing at [4.2]. It's always dangerous to write this pair off and, indeed, a Serena/Venus Final is available to back at odds of [4.4]. However, if you're after an outside bet which offers better value, look no further than Caroline Wozniacki.

Momentum is on Wozniacki's side at the moment and the technical improvement in her game during recent months has been noticeable. Currently ranked number 9 in the world, the Denmark number 1, who is currently available to back at odds of [19.5], has experience of success at Wimbledon after winning the girls' tournament back in 2006.

With regards to doubts about the drive and ambition of emerging female tennis players, one brief look at Wozniacki may be enough to challenge even the most skeptical of preconceptions. Not satisfied with breaking into the top ten, the eighteen-year-old is intent on making the transition up the rankings as soon as possible. Self-belief is certainly something Wozniacki has in abundance.

The Dane's preparation for Wimbledon went well, with victory in the Aegon International in Eastbourne. Wozniacki was clearly pleased with this result, which came at France's Virginie Razzano's expense, and she'll undoubtedly be looking to carry the confidence resulting from this title into Wimbledon this week.

Wozniacki isn't the only outside prospect in with a chance of stealing the limelight from the conventional mainstays of women's tennis. With Victoria Azarenka, available at odds of [13.5], coming into the tournament experienced in defeating Serena Williams and comfortable with overcoming the rigours of a long run in a Grand Slam (she reached the quarter-finals of the French Open), women's tennis may not be all doom and gloom after all.