Williams dominance to continue

It’s rather surprising to see Venus marked as second favourite for Saturday’s showpiece. She may be 37 years old, and may just have already played her best tennis, but there’s little danger of her being finished, the American has proven that already at this year’s tournament. Many casual fans will be more than happy to take even money about a five-time champion.

She hasn’t come out on top here since 2008, beating sister Serena, but did knock out Coral favourite, and British hope, Johanna Konta in the last round, winning 6-4, 6-2. A straight set win over the shortest price in the betting? That shows the kind of mood she’s in. Fancy more of the same? Venus 2-0 will net you 9/4, and that would come as no major surprise.

Plenty of bite left in the underdog

With a taste for upsetting the odds, it would be a brave punter who would write Venus off with any real confidence. She’ll walk out in front of a bumper crowd at Wimbledon on Sunday as the oldest Grand Slam finalist for years. Will that bother her? Of course not. Will that inspire her to go and prove her doubters wrong? You bet.

Experience counts double here and Venus will be taking part in her ninth Wimbledon final. The stats show five wins from the previous eight attempts, but with each of those three losses coming against sister Serena, it’s made all the more impressive. She beat Lindsay Davenport here 17 years ago to set the ball rolling, winning 2-0. Each of her last two Wimbledon gongs, 2007 and 2008, have also been won to nil. We expect this one to fall into line.

Click here for a look at how the men’s draw is shaping up