Serena Williams didn’t appear on the entry list for Wimbledon when the tournament released its initial fields earlier this month. But, organizers have given the seven-time champion a wild-card entry that will put her straight into the main draw as one of the tournament favorites this July.
DraftKings Sportsbook lists Williams as a +1800 pick to win Wimbledon, making her the joint sixth choice alongside world No. 3 Paula Badosa.
Williams warming up with doubles in Eastbourne
Williams, of course, is no ordinary wild card. The 23-time Grand Slam winner remains a threat against any opponent even at the age of 40. However, she hasn’t played since suffering an injury a year ago in her first-round match at Wimbledon.
The stage awaits.
Our 7-time champion @serenawilliams will return to Wimbledon as a wild card this summer for her 21st appearance pic.twitter.com/7ddMAv7mOq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 14, 2022
The lack of competitive play, particularly at her age, will raise questions over just how far Williams can go at Wimbledon. Even if her form is sharp, fatigue will potentially become a factor over the course of two weeks.
To prepare, Williams plans to play doubles with Ons Jabeur at Eastbourne next week. The tournament serves as a grass-court warm-up for Wimbledon for many players, not just those returning from injury.
Swiatek favored after dominant run
If Williams wants to seriously contend for her 24th Grand Slam title, she’ll have to get through some formidable opponents. Dominant world No. 1 Iga Swiatek (+140) leads the way. Swiatek has won 35 straight matches, tying the longest such streak this century and the seventh-longest of all time. That run culminated in Swiatek winning her second French Open title.
| Wimbledon Odds – Women’s Draw (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | |
| Iga Swiatek: +140 | Cori Gauff: +1000 |
| Naomi Osaka: +1200 | Simona Halep: +1400 |
| Bianca Andreescu: +1600 | Serena Williams: +1800 |
| Paula Badosa: +1800 | Ons Jabeur: +1800 |
Coco Gauff (+1000) also looms as a Wimbledon contender. She reached her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros before falling to Swiatek. At 18, Gauff has fulfilled her promise, and it’s only a matter of time before the young American gets her Grand Slam breakthrough. Naomi Osaka (+1200), Simona Halep (+1400), and Bianca Andreescu (+1600) are among the other players who will be among the top contenders at Wimbledon.
The All England Club awarded a total of six women’s wild-card entries on Tuesday. The other five went to British players ranked outside the world’s top 100, including Katie Boulter. The tournament also announced seven men’s wild-card berths, including one for three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka. Wimbledon will award a total of eight wild cards in each draw.
