Murray beats Italian in a thriller

Trader’s take on Andy’s chances

We caught up with Coral tennis trader Al Davies at Stratford HQ, getting his opinion on Murray’s chances this year, and the thinking behind the current Wimbledon outright market.

“Friday’s match will be a concern for Andy and his team. He wouldn’t have expected to go the distance so early in the competition, and Fognini caused him no end of problems. A step up in class from earlier matches against Bublik and Brown, and boy did it show.

“As Murray’s price suggests, we don’t fancy his chances this year, and that’s not been the case in the past, usually looking to keep him close. His three main rivals seem to be performing at a higher level right now. We feel Federer and Nadal are worthy favourites, based on what we’ve seen so far.”

Konta to go all the way

Fans of British tennis had another reason to cheer at the weekend, with Johanna Konta smashing Maria Sakkari to get her name in the fourth round, which rates as a personal best for the 26-year-old. She passed her Greek opponent with minimal fuss, strolling to a 6-4, 6-1 result. Konta is now a convincing jolly, priced at 4/1, ahead of Kerber, Vandeweghe and Venus Williams, all 9/1 at the time of writing.

She’s back out on Monday against Caroline Garcia, a French rep seeded 21. That shouldn’t prove the end, according to Coral’s odds compilers, who have her as a 4/11 pick to keep going, against Garcia’s 9/4. Konta told the press on Friday she finds the support of British fans humbling, and plans to be involved until the very end.

We’ll keep you updated with the Wimbledon betting here