Paszek and Venus make interesting outside punts for Wimbledon

As the grass court spectacle that is Wimbledon draws ever closer, punters across the globe will be putting in the research, deciding which players to invest their hard-earned on.

For those considering a foray into the volatile world of the women’s singles market, a name that has not been subject to much hype in the build up is that of Austrian Tamira Paszek.

Typically a poor Grand Slam player, Paszek indulges her inner tennis superstar when the SW19 extravaganza is on the horizon. She’s never advanced beyond the second round at any of the other major events on the WTA calendar aside from Wimbledon, where she’s reached successive quarter finals.

She also has a grass court title to her name too, winning last term’s traditional Wimbledon warm up at Eastbourne.

Paszek is available to back at 100/1 with Ladbrokes and, while she probably isn’t going to win the tournament, she could prove a shrewd each-way flutter. Similarly, after beating the likes of Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki – two players sure to boast far superior seedings when the championship commences – on this surface last year, she makes an even better underdog shout should she draw a superstar towards the end of week one.
Another outside punt with fantastic potential could be Venus Williams at 80/1.

While her 33 years of age may definitely work against her, her record on grass is as good as anybody’s and, should she land a kind draw, she could find herself competing at the deep end of the tournament quite easily.

A first round elimination at the hands of Elena Vesnina last term has cast all kinds of doubts over her ability to compete at the top level, but few players have enjoyed such SW19 dominance as the Williams sisters and, while Serena – 4/7 championship favourite – remains the one to beat, Venus still has it in her locker to raise an eyebrow or two this year.

Like Paszek, backing her outright is unlikely to reap rewards, but a player who has only lost six games in as many years on the green has to be worthy of an each way stake at such dizzying odds.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date