The withdrawal of betting favorite Aryna Sabalenka doesn’t make it any easier to predict the 2024 Wimbledon women’s champion. Now, the odds-on pick to win the tournament is world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, a consensus but very slight favorite (+350) ahead of Coco Gauff (+370 to +400) and Elena Rybakina (+400 to +420).
On Tuesday, the top-seeded Swiatek plays her Wimbledon opener against American Sofia Kenin. Banking on Swiatek’s excellence against the 38th-ranked Kenin is where my in-tournament wagering begins.
The pick — Swiatek vs. Kenin UNDER 18.5 total games (-130, BetMGM)
- BetMGM offer: $1500 in Bonus Bets paid back
After winning her third-straight French Open in May, Swiatek chose not to play a grass-court event to get ready for Wimbledon. She took all of June off, unlike last year when she reached the Hamburg Open semifinals and then lost in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Will the idleness and lack of grass-court preparation make for a rusty opening match? Not likely. And not with the year Swiatek is enjoying.
The 23-year-old is 45-4 in 2024 and has won 19 consecutive matches. During her win streak, Swiatek has had only three matches extend to three sets. Also, she is 2-0 lifetime against Kenin, prevailing in straight sets at the 2020 French Open (6-4, 6-1) and 2024 Australian Open (7-6, 6-2).
Swiatek is at the peak of her game and at the top of the women’s game. She’ll kick off her fortnight at the All England Club in dominant fashion — in less than 19 games.
Tennis record: 3-1, +1.57 units