2012 Wimbledon odds: Maria Sharapova vs Serena Williams in All England final
LONDON – As incredible as Maria Sharapova’s comeback story is, equally as impacting is how fast Serena Williams has disappeared from the tennis sphere.
Without a single Grand Slam victory in almost two years, the former world No.1 continues to be looked at one of the biggest disappointments in women’s tennis history.
Most tennis experts believe that if Williams were to actually dedicate her life to being the best tennis player she could possibly be, she would easily go down as the greatest ever and would surpass Steffi Graf’s all-time mark of 22 Grand Slams.
Instead, Williams continues to show up to tournaments in less than tip-top shape, and is constantly tarnishing her own legacy by making negative comments about her commitment and love for tennis.
Nevertheless, having said all that, 2012 Wimbledon oddsmakers are giving the 13-time Grand Slam champion the benefit of the doubt.
As we prepare for the 126th edition of The Championships, Wimbledon, Williams –listed as a +275 betting favorite — is projected to reach the women single’s finals and challenge a rejuvenated Sharapova — also listed as a +275 favored — despite coming off a first-round loss at Roland Garros.
Williams, who went into the French Open as the betting favorite, was defeated by world No.91st ranked Frenchwoman, Virginie Razzano. During a restroom break, Williams sat on her bench crying after dropping the second set tiebreak to Razzano.
Despite her emotions, she would go on to lose the match by a final tally of: 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3. The defeat marked the earliest ever Grand Slam loss for the American whose love and dedication to the sport has been in question for many years now.
“It’s life,” she said after the match. “Things could be a lot worse.”
Can Williams regain her form and return to the winner’s circle at this year’s Wimbledon? Can Serena possibly challenge a revamped and dedicated Sharapova for the most coveted title in tennis?
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Williams does hold an 8-2 advantage over Sharapova in their head-to-head battles through the years. When it comes to this tournament, they’ve faced each other twice, each walking away with a split. Sharapova defeated Williams in 2004 on her way to her only Wimbledon title, and Serena returned the favor in 2010.
Check out this video of Williams’ meltdown at the French 2012, followed by the top names expected to make some noise here at the All England Lawn this year!
- Serena Williams +275
- Maria Sharapova +275
- Petra Kvitova +350
- Victoria Azarenka +600
- Na Li +2,000
- Kim Clijsters +2,500
- Samantha Stosur +2,500
- Venus Williams +2,500
- Agnieszka Radwanska +3,000
- Caroline Wozniacki +3,000
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