Wimbledon 2009 betting

Will Serena remain dominant?

The 29-year-old has won the women's singles titles in both the last two years, and has a clutch of other major honours to her name.

Those considering Wimbledon betting would do well to bear her in mind, not only on the strength of her record in South West London but her incredible 56 titles, which includes 17 Grand Slam titles.

Venus has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, and has won more Olympic gold medals than any other player in history - one in singles and two in doubles.

So far her 2009 record is impressive, another factor sure to influence Wimbledon betting. She was upset in the second round of the Australian Open but won the women's doubles together with younger sister Serena - that was their eighth Grand Slam doubles title together.

Williams went on to win the Dubai Tennis Championships, beating Serena on the way to overcoming Virginie Razzano in the final in straight sets. Punters who have an eye on Wimbledon betting will have been impressed as she rose to fifth in the world, her highest ranking since August 2003.

Whether she starts as favourite in Wimbledon betting or not, Venus has owned the Centre Court in the last two years. In 2007 she was only seeded 23rd but beat Svetlana Kuznetsova and then, in the semi final, Ana Ivanovic, before a straight sets win over France's Marion Bartoli gave her the title.

Her Wimbledon betting odds were much shorter last year when she arrived to defend her title, this time seeded seventh. She faced unseeded Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn in the quarter-finals and won that in straight sets, as she did in her semi-final against Russia's Elena Dementieva.

The Williams sisters met in the final and Wimbledon betting favoured Serena, but Venus was having none of it and after winning the first set 7-5 she closed out the match 6-4 in the second.