Big guns exit as Kvitova battles Sharapova for SW19 favouritism
Published:Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova are in a fierce battle at the top of the Wimbledon betting following a day of upsets in the women’s draw at Wimbledon.
Both Serena and Venus Williams suffered shock exits at the hands of Marion Bartoli and Tsvetana Pironkova, and the defeats for the two American stars has left the Wimbledon odds up in the air.
World number one Caroline Wozniacki was never a favourite for Wimbledon but her exit to Dominika Cibulkova leaves Victoria Azarenka as the highest ranked seed left in the draw, but Azarenka finds herself the 9/2 third favourite.
Sharapova has been favourite for the duration of the tournament and the exits of the Williams sisters and Wozniacki has strengthened the Russian’s position at the top of the Wimbledon betting.
Except there is plenty of support for Petra Kvitova who finds herself in the bottom half of the women’s draw, away from Sharapova.
Kvitova will play Pironkova in the quarter-final in what will be one of the games of the tournament considering the form Pironkova is in, and it is no easy match for the second favourite and Pironkova is offering up plenty of value in the Wimbledon odds at 14/1.
The other quarter-final in the bottom half pits Azarenka against Tamira Paszek, easily the weakest player left in the draw and Azarenka should have no problem progressing into the semi-final.
Sharapova will take on Cibulkova in the top half of the draw and will play the winner of Sabine Lisicki’s tie with Marion Bartoli in the semi-final should she negotiate her way past Cibulkova.
Lisicki has looked in strong form this week but Bartoli is a previous Wimbledon finalist and her experience may just hand her the advantage in that tie.
All eyes are now on Sharapova, Kvitova and Azarenka as we reach the latter stages of the women’s draw and the exits of three dangers leaves the Wimbledon betting wide open.
