Wimbledon ladies’ last 16: Second week begins with Williams sisters

Dropping just two games in a straight sets mauling, Sharapova is massively odds-on at 1/14, and better at 2/7 for another 2-0 win over 7/1 match outsider Diyas.

Also in the top half of the ladies’ singles draw are first-ever encounters between Victoria Azarenka (now a 14/1 shot for the title) and teenage sensation Belinda Bencic, and American upstart Coco Vandeweghe and Lucie Safarova (16/1 to better being French Open runner-up here).

Belarus’ best export Azarenka has made easy progress into the second week of Wimbledon, sweeping aside three unseeded players all in straight sets.

Switzerland youngster Bencic, meanwhile, has exploded onto the scene, following up her first WTA Tour title at the AEGON International at Eastbourne impressively. Grass seems to suit her game.

Experienced Azarenka is odds-on at 4/11 to topple the teenager, and 10/11 to do so in straight sets. Bencic beat Agnieszka Radwanska in the final of that Wimbledon warm-up for women, however, so has already got a major scalp on this surface.

Nifty 9/4 odds for Bencic to embarrass two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka must be considered, and a better 9/2 price says she shall best the Belorussian in three sets.

Sixth seed Safarova’s own progress looks no less difficult, despite an odds-on 4/7 price to defeat Vandeweghe. The American has already dumped two top 25 ladies out of Wimbledon, one being 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur.

At 11/8 to win again, Vandeweghe will push Safarova in similar fashion, and fellow USA representatives Alison Riske and Sloane Stephens caused the Czech Republic player problems.

Both were ultimately dispatched in three sets, however, so Safarova looks a superb shout at 11/4 to give Vandeweghe the same treatment.

Coral’s top tip: We like the look of younger Williams sibling Serena in three sets at 11/4.