2012 Wimbledon Men’s Tennis Championship
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club – Wimbledon, England
Playing Surface: Grass
Monday, June 25-Sunday, July 8, 2012, TV: ESPN
Defending Champion: Novak Djokovic
All odds courtesy of Bookmaker

Although there are 128 players entered into the Wimbledon Championships, only four have a realistic shot of winning the tournament. And really when you consider, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer have combined to win 31 of the last 34 majors dating back to 2004, it is down to three.

Not only will the All England Club host the Wimbledon tournament as usual, but it will also host the Olympic tennis competition at the end of July.

Here is a look at the favorites and other contenders, with odds courtesy of bookmaker.

Novak Djokovic (+170)

Djokovic is 25 from Serbia. He is 36-6 this year with titles at the Australian Open. He has three losses in Finals on clay to Nadal at Rome, Monte Carlo, and at the French Open. He hasn’t played since the French Open.

Djokovic has won four of the last 6 majors, and is the defending champion at Wimbledon. He has played Nadal in the finals of the last 4 Grand Slams.

Djokovic is the #1 seed at Wimbledon. He has a tough first round match-up against Juan Carlos Ferrero. After that he really shouldnt be tested until the quarterfinals against potentially #12 Nicolas Almagro or #6 Tomas Berdych. Another probable showdown in the semifinals with Roger Federer awaits. There is no reason to think Djokovic won’t make it that far, and to the finals to defend his title.

Rafael Nadal (+240)

Nadal, 26 from France, is 41-5 this season with 4 titles all on clay at Rome, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, and the French Open. He lost to Djokovic in the Australian Open final but beat him in the French Final.

Nadal has 11 major titles, but 7 of them came at the French Open. Nadal has two Wimbledon titles, and 3 runner ups including last year to Djokovic. He holds the career Grand Slam.

Nadal is the #2 seed at Wimbledon. He really shouldn’t be tested until the quarterfinals when he could potentially face #5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or #10 Mardy Fish. he is on the same side of the draw as Andy Murray and they could meet in the semifinals. Tsonga or Murray could challenge him, but if he survives that he should meet Djokovic in the final for the fifth straight major.

Roger Federer (+385)

Federer, 30 from Switzlerland, is 39-6 with titles at Madrid, Indian Wells, Dubai, and Rotterdam. He lost in the semifinals at both the Australian Open and the French Open. He lost in the finals of a tournament in Halle Germany on grass as a tune-up for Wimbledon.

Federer is a 16 time major champion, but hasn’t won since the 2010 Australian Open. He is a 6 time champion here, but has lost in the quarters the last two years. Federer is still the third best player in the world, but seems to have lost a step against Djokovic and Nadal.

Federer is the #3 seed at Wimbledon. He shouldn’t be tested until the fourth round potentially against #13 Gilles Simon. In the quarters he could face #8 Janko Tipsarevic or #11 John Isner. I think he gets back to the semis against Djokovic.

Andy Murray (19/2)

Murray is 29-6 this season with a win at Brisbane and runner-ups at Miami and Dubai. He lost in the semifinals at the Australian Open and the quarterfinals at the French.

Murray, 25 from Scotland, has the unfortunate distinction of being the fourth best player in an era with 3 of the best players in history. He has never won a  major title but has made the semifinals at Wimbledon the last 3 years.

Murray is the #4 seed at Wimbledon. Like the top 3 he shouldn’t be tested until the quarterfinals when he could face #7 David Ferrer, #30 Andy Roddick, or #9 Juan Martin Del Potro. If he survives the quarters, he would most likely play Nadal in the semifinals. I give Murray a fighting chance to pull off the upset.

If the big four falter other contenders are Tsonga (25/1), Del Potro, and Berdych ( both 30/1), Roddick (43/1), Tommy Haas (50/1), Ferrer and Tipseravic (both 55/1), and Mardy Fish (65/1). Here is a complete look at the betting odds with odds courtesy of Bookmaker.

I think Djokovic wins his second Wimbledon title beating Nadal in the final.

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