Federer The Favorite For Fourth Wimbledon Tennis Title - 06-23-06

In the ladies' championship, the fourth seeded Maria Sharapova is currently the 2 favorite at 5 to 2, and will look to go one better over her 2005 semi-final loss to Venus Williams, the eventual winner. The bookies seem to back her this year.

Andy Roddick, who carries US hopes on his shoulders, is listed at 6-1. The third seed, is one of Federer's final victims in the last three years. Everyone's favorite veteran, Andre Agassi is listed at 60-1.

Back to the ladies. Venus Williams, 7th seed and reigning champion, will be the sole American playing in the tournaments after sister Serena Williams and both Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport has to withdraw because of injury. Williams does look like good money at 6-1. Other top seeds include Belgians Kim Clijsters (11-2) and Justine Henin- Hardenne (9-2).

After winning Queens, the traditional warm-up to Wimbledon, Aussie Lleyton Hewitt looks an interesting bet at 12-1. Hewitt looks like he is starting to find the form that made him world number 1, so that looks like good money. Rafael Nadal (15-1), the clay court sensation, looks a bit of an outsider at 15-1, but this man is so talented that one has to believe he will come to grips with grass at some stage soon in his career.