Women's Draw / Gary Boswell / 20 June 2008 / Leave a comment

Gary Boswell looks through the first round of the women's draw in serach of potential upsets. Patty Schneider might struggle, Alize Cornet may come unstuck against a promising teenager and even Jelena Jankovic may have her work cut out.

One thing you can be sure of is that seeds will tumble in the first round at Wimbledon. Someone has told me that the past three years have been backable blanket to level stakes in the women's draw to show a profit. I can't verify that with stats unfortunately but I'll be watching this year to see if enough of the 30 numbered ladies fall at the first hurdle to make it four years in a row.

Meanwhile I've taken a look at the draw that came out on Friday and found four where the upset is an on paper possibility.

Patty Schnyder(12) v Casey Dellacqua(41)

The battle of the lefties has already taken place this year in the 2nd Round of the Australian open and the serve/volleyer who saw off Marion Bartoli at Roland Garros
was the winner that day in three sets. Another extremely tight encounter in store but the number twelve seed - whose game simply does not suit grass - will be extremely vulnerable. I take Dellacqua to score a quick double and this rates my number one potential upset.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Alizế Cornet (17)

The French sensation who made final in Rome was slightly disappointing at the Garros and has yet to prove herself conclusively on grass. She will not relish her first round draw against the 'new young thing' who at sixteen is wowing everyone with her confident attacking play. She has a clutch of Wimbledon junior titles already under her belt and lost only eight games in the Roehampton qualifiers where shrewd observers were busy practising spelling her name. A future commentator's tongue-twister in the making and a mighty fine young prospect who could just lower the talented French woman's colours if the wind is in the right direction.

Olga Savchuk v Jelena Jankovic(2)

Has the Boz lost his marbles?? How can the new world number two possibly be scuppered by a woman ranked a mere 113? Ok, so this is a longshot but I had Savchuk on my list for Wimbledon first round upsets after I watched her play Mauresmo at the Garros. Savchuk quite simply has a grass court game. Solid volleyer and not afraid to use the drop shot. She would have beaten an off-colour Mauresmo had it been on grass in Paris and I made note to watch who she drew first round at Wimbledon.

No bigger upset on the cards if she knocks out Jankovic who could quite simply blow her off the court with the power of her backhand.

Initially I was disappointed that Savchuck drew such a tough one but then I googled up the head to head and found encouragement. It stands at 1-1 and Savchuk has a significant win under her belt during the Australian in 2006.

That proves that Jankovic finds what is now considered an unusual serve/volley style a challenge and I'm back in with a little nibble at laying the Serb in play. There was no doubt that when last seen, Jankovic was also suffering with a forearm injury and pulled out of defending her title at Edgbaston.

A genuine maybe upset of colossal betting potential!

Kaia Kanepi v Serena Williams(6)

Another genuine longshot with this time no head to head form to recommend it. Serena has the upper hand in all previous meets but the Estonian is on the upgrade and was one of those that showed exceptional form at the Garros making quarter-final. Taking on Serena is all about the doubts surrounding her current well being.

Both mentally and physically, I have strong doubts about Serena for this Wimbledon. Her back is troubling her and the serve - a very strong part of her armoury on grass - looks severely compromised to me. The defeat against Srebotnik at the Garros was extremely lacklustre and I'd rate Kanepi not far behind that in terms of class. It's a possible and at the odds on offer, no huge risks to be taken!!

Tags: Jelena Jankovic, Wimbledon betting, Wimbledon tennis bets