"But, with this being Clijsters' last Wimbledon, the sprightly Jankovic, fresh from a run to the final of the Aegon Classic, will be looking to make it a short final visit, and the Serbian seed is too good a price to pass up."
Gary and James Boswell have found six players at odds-against who can cause upsets on the first two days at Wimbledon in the wonmen's draw. Here they are.
Although the weather might not indicate it, it's Wimbledon time again. Another year's exciting tennis approaches and James Boswell has been up to his eyeballs in racquets picking the best odds of the women's first round.
Jelena Jankovic to beat Kim Clijsters priced around 3.352/1
Without doubt, the pick of the first round is the match-up between 4 times slam winner Kim Clijsters and 18th seed Jelena Jankovic. Both former world number ones, this promises to be a veritable clash of the titans which could light up the whole tournament. Clijsters carries a formidable record into the game, having beaten Jankovic in seven of the pair's eight meetings. But, with this being Clijsters' last Wimbledon, the sprightly Jankovic, fresh from a run to the final of the Aegon Classic, will be looking to make it a short final visit, and the Serbian seed is too good a price to pass up.
Tamira Paszek to beat Caroline Wozniacki priced around 3.12/1
Coming in on the back of an unlikely victory at the Aegon International in Eastbourne, Tamira Paszek faces the Danish superstar Caroline Wozniacki. Only six months her opponent's junior, Paszek hasn't enjoyed the same success as the illustrious Dane, but that could all be about to change. Grass is clearly her preferred surface, as shown by her win by the sea, as well as a quarter final finish at last year's Wimbledon. And she's a real fighter on the court, which could upset the more fluid Wozniacki. It will be a big ask to beat the former world number one, but if she can do it, the Austrian could go far.
Vania King to beat Petra Cetkovska priced around 2.781/1
My third choice sees the American Vania King pitted against Czech hopeful Petra Cetkovska. A Wimbledon doubles winner, King has never managed to translate that promise onto the singles court at SW19, but this year is set to be the turning point. Although it feels like she's been around forever, King is only 21, and she's in the best singles form of her career. She will want to attack the 23rd seed from the outset and, although Cetkovska has previous, with an impressive 4th round performance last year, King could just prove to be too strong for the Czech.
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez to beat Ana Ivanovic priced around 4.73/1
And the prize for longest odds on my list goes to... Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, the Spanish doubles specialist. Like King, Martinez Sanchez is another player whose singles form is not as strong as her doubles', but, like King, she is a player on the rise. Her singles ranking has slowly been rising after years in the wilderness, and she is looking a more and more rounded player without a partner. Her opponent, the vivacious Ms. Ivanovic, is not to be trifled with, but she is certainly not at her strongest on the grass, so look for the Spaniard to capitalise by controlling the pace of the game. A shock in the making.
Arantxa Rus to beat Misake Doi priced around 2.31/1
One of the youngest match-ups in the first round, the meeting of the monosyllabic Rus and Doi promises to be a lively affair. Former junior world number one Rus looks a lively player who has given a good account of herself at the other majors. Doi, on the other hand, has a poor record everywhere else, but had a run to the third round at SW19 last year. In head to heads, Rus holds a slight advantage, having beaten Doi twice and lost only once, but none of these matches were played on grass. Ranked 27 places higher than her Japanese opponent, Rus is the clear favourite in my eyes, so her slight outsider odds are there to be capitalised upon.
Alexandra Panova to beat Mirjana Lucic priced around 2.581/1
The last name on my list is the Russian Alexandra Panova. Playing in her first Wimbledon, she is at the opposite end of her career to her opponent, the Croatian Mirjana Lucic. By her age though, Lucic had already won the Australian Open doubles with Martina Hingis, as well as making the Wimbledon semi-finals. After a long hiatus, Lucic has made a steady comeback, but has not made any impact at the majors. It's not the easiest of introductions to SW19 for Panova, but she does carry the higher world ranking and a 2-0 record against Lucic into the tie. Panova's is the corner to be in.
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