Queen’s Club Preview: Murray mounts return as Djokovic eyes title
Published:
Andy Murray will step-up his preparations for Wimbledon by competing in the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s Club this week.
The former world number one and two-time SW19 champion has suffered from a recurring hip injury which subsequently required surgery.
As a result, Murray hasn’t swung his racket in anger since exciting at the third round stage in South London 12 months ago.
Now, though, he’s on the comeback trail. And his bid for an unlikely third Wimbledon title begins at Queen’s, where he’ll face maverick Australian Nick Kyrgios in the first round.
The Scotsman has won a record five Fever-Tree Championships and triumphed on his last appearance in 2016, defeating Milos Raonic in the final.
He may be the most likely British hopeful in the market, but our traders don’t give Murray much of a chance at 18/1.
Instead, it’s Novak Djokovic who leads the way at 4/1. The Serbian has never won a Queen’s title but brings some handy form into the Kensington tournament.
His own comeback from elbow surgery has gone well with a semi-final appearance in the Italian Open and a quarter-final berth at Roland Garros.
He’ll be hoping for another impressive display as he builds up for a tilt at a third Wimbledon crown.
Grigor Dimitrov follows at 15/2 after three successive round-of-32 exits in the Madrid Open, Italian Open and French Open. He last won the title here in 2014.
The aforementioned Raonic lost out in the Mercedes Cup Final to Roger Federer at the weekend and is 8/1 to atone for that defeat by winning at Queen’s. Canada’s number one is a consistent operator on grass and boasts one of the games strongest serves.
Kyrgios and Kevin Anderson are both considered viable outsiders ahead of Tomas Berdych at 20/1.
Further down the list Britain has a number of contenders including Kyle Edmund (28/1) and Dan Evans (33/1).
The former is up to a career-high 17th in the ATP Rankings, while the latter is continuing his comeback following a one-year drugs ban.
Can either of them upset the odds and go all the way at Queen’s?
Click here for the latest Fever-Tree Championships odds.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
