- Carlos Alcaraz is the defending Wimbledon champion
- Hubert Hurkacz reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2021
- Recommended bets
- Carlos Alcaraz to win
- Hubert Hurkacz to win and each-way

With Rafael Nadal skipping this year's grass-court Grand Slam tournament and Andy Murray, who is in the Wimbledon draw, no certainty to participate after surgery on a cyst, it is probably down to Novak Djokovic to stand up for the old guard in the season's third major.

However, things are not coming as easy for the 37-year-old Serb, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in last year's Wimbledon final.

Therefore, it is no surprise to see Australian Open hero Jannik Sinner, 7/4 with LiveScore Bet, and French Open champion Alcaraz (5/2) head the outright betting for the grass crown ahead of 13/4 third-favourite Djokovic.

No surprise to see Sinner favourite

Having won the only fast-court Grand Slam of the season thus far, it is no great surprise to see new world number one Sinner made favourite to go all the way at Wimbledon this year.

The Italian 22-year-old, who lifted his first major silverware in the Australian Open in January, most definitely belongs in the top echelon which is slowly but surely replacing the old guard led by Djokovic.

But Djokovic has come in for some support considering he will not meet Sinner or French Open champion Alcaraz until the final in London.

However, Sinner could face a tough-looking outing in round two at Wimbledon with a potential clash against compatriot Matteo Berrettini looking likely.

Challengers cannot be ruled out

There are a raft of viable challengers this season and with things wide open in the men's game right now, some of them are difficult to rule out.

Britain's Jack Draper has the right credentials to follow in Murray's footsteps and rule at Wimbledon, although the 22-year-old from Sutton may still lack the necessary experience to go all the way so soon in his career.

Former finalist Berrettini and Taylor Fritz are good enough to go all the way, while the latter's younger compatriots Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton ought to make further progress on grass this year.

Prediction

With Berrettini looking capable of giving his friend Sinner trouble in a potential second-round thriller, there may be value in Alcaraz holding on to the Wimbledon title.

The French Open hero took time to assert his superiority over Djokovic in last year's London final, but Alcaraz was arguably better value for that five-set triumph that the result suggested.

And while Sinner, even if was to see off Berrettini in the last 64, would be expected to trouble Alcaraz more back on faster courts than on the slow clay, the world number one would be no certainty to stop the brilliant Spaniard on grass, especially considering the strides the Murcian made in Paris recently.

Hubert Hurkacz, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon three years ago, is getting better and better and the consistent Pole is worth a modest each-way interest at 20/1 with LiveScore Bet in the bottom half of the draw with Djokovic's sterling career now looking on a downward trajectory.

Back Carlos Alcaraz at 5/2 with LiveScore Bet

Back Hubert Hurkacz each-way at 20/1 with LiveScore Bet