in Tennis Articles

London, England – World No. 1 Roger Federer embarks on the defense of his Sportsbook to win outright, Federer is the heavy favorite to win his fifth consecutive title at The All England Club.

With the draw released on Friday June 22, 2007, Federer’s quarter of the draw is not without its challenges. First up for Federer will be Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili, who is making his Wimbledon debut. While Federer meets No. 85 Gabashvili for the first time, he is not expected to face a challenge until perhaps a possible third round meeting with Marat Safin. Marat Safin (+6600 to win outright) had his best performance at Wimbledon in 2001, when he was a quarterfinalist.

Should Federer persevere against the temperamental Safin in the third round, pundits expect Tommy Haas (+10000 to win outright) and Fernando Gonzalez (+4000 to win outright) to challenge Federer in the fourth and quarterfinal rounds respectively.

However, Gonzalez was not favored in their quarter of the draw, making him a long shot Wimbledon quarterfinalist. First up for Gonzalez is Robby Ginepri, who he defeated at the Stella Artois Championships last week in the R16. While he should advance past Ginepri in the first round, 6’6” giant Sam Querrey could be waiting for him in the second round, followed by young, rising Serbian sensation Janko Tipsarevic or Phillip Kohlschreiber in the third round. Considering Gonzalez’s draw, he would appear to be poised for an upsetting Wimbledon campaign.

Tommy Haas, on the other hand, fell into a more favorable part of the draw, and could very well advance into the third round to meet his first challenge from Michael Berrer, who just wrapped up an impressive run at the Ordina Open, which ended in the quarterfinal round.

Federer’s task may appear to be less demanding than it is, particularly as he is tipped at a whopping -10000 to reach the semifinal round with BetUS.com Sportsbook. Then again, at Wimbledon – the most coveted title in tennis, steeped in tradition and history - there seems to be no indication that Federer’s tradition of winning his favorite Grand Slam event will subside.

Vying for his fifth consecutive title, a feat that has not been accomplished since Bjorn Borg (1976-1980), Federer is a sure play at the very least to the semifinal, where pundits expect him to meet the greatest challenge to his run: Andy Roddick, tipped at +175 to reach the semifinal round and +1000 to win Wimbledon outright.

However, with Federer playing for a history, a history most players can only dream of, equaling that of his idol Bjorn Borg, a hyped-up Roddick upsetting the master of tennis – the undisputed King of Wimbledon – seems almost ludicrous.

After the Australian Open semifinal, Roddick’s claim to have bridged the gap Federer created in tennis was reduced to a mockery by the man himself. Alas, fate’s unkind hand dealt Andy Roddick with the prospect of yet another Grand Slam semifinal against Federer. With his nemeses Federer (who holds a 13-1 record against him) looming as a real possibility, Roddick, tipped at +450 to reach the finals, would seem to be an unlikely Wimbledon finalist this year.

Tipped at -1000 to reach the finals, Federer’s place in the final almost seems to be a forgone conclusion. As the top half of the draw is largely scripted with Federer rising out of the mêlée, to reign supreme over his kingdom, the bottom half of the draw would appear to be the more exciting - as the possibilities of who will earn the right to challenge Federer’s fifth attempt for the Wimbledon title are endless.

Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.