Olympics Betting: Tennis Tournament Preview

Williams loves the Olympics and will be wanting to add a singles gold medal to her two doubles.

Four years is an eternity in tennis, so previous Olympic results aren't relevant here, but Wimbledon form is.

The three week gap between the Championships and the Olympics has been significant for the top players, who have rested up ahead of the event, although Rafael Nadal is to miss with a knee injury. 

There's got to be some love for the men' s finalists Roger Federer and Andy Murray - both can go deep into this tournament and back up their form from Wimbledon. 

It's a different pressure for Murray: while the home fans will be wanting him to win, the entire focus of the nation won't be on him as it was at Wimbledon, so a sneaky dollar or two @ Betfair odds of (8.0) wouldn't be a bad option.

For Fed, it was a massive step winning Wimbledon and getting the top ranking back. He loves this surface and is in excellent form (as he has been for much of this year). The odds are about right for him at the moment @ (3.25),  so snap them up before they shorten.

While Novak Djokovic is the favourite for the tournament, and reached the semi-final here, I think either Murray or Federer can get him again. There is also better value elsewhere.

The one to watch is John Isner. The big serving marathon man is in great form at the moment winning the Newport title on grass and making quarters in Atlanta. The (60.0) odds represents excellent value.

Of the Aussies, Lleyton Hewitt could be worth backing. He has set himself for this event, loves playing for his country, loves playing at Wimbledon and has some good form coming into the event, making the final of the Hall of Fame Championships in the states a couple of weeks ago (on grass). 

This could be his last appearance at Wimbledon, so he will be wanting to make his mark.

Remember, the tournament is best of three sets until the final, so the shorter matches will help. Hewitt's the best Aussie chance with Bernard Tomic so sadly out of form right now.

Serena Williams is a deserved favourite for the tournament, following on from her fifth Wimbledon title. She's in great form and feeling good, so will be hard to beat. She loves the Olympics and will be wanting to add a singles gold medal to her two doubles.

Aside from Williams, it's wide open with plenty of chances to win. For some value, Germany's Angelique Kerber is very much a player on the rise. Runner-up at the Eastbourne lead-up tournament, then reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon, demonstrated why she is in the world's top ten. Betfair odds of (30.0) are excellent value for a player in form.

I wouldn't go near Sam Stosur in this tournament. She has struggled on grass and will be looking to get back onto hard-courts to defend her US Open Title.

Seven different winners of the past seven grand slams in the women's shows any of the top players can win gold, Sharapova, Kvitova and Azarenka can't be discounted.