Wimbledon Women's Betting: Back Watson to provide Kerber with real test

Can Watson over come Kerber?

As we conclude the second round matches, Abelson Info look ahead to the action from Wimbledon on Thursday...

Attention switches back to the top half of the draw on Thursday, with world number one Serena
Williams leading a star studded line-up across the day's play.

The American ace dropped just three games in her opening match, and she is unsurprisingly a strong favourite to overcome the challenge of Chanelle Scheepers in similar comfort.

Elsewhere, Simona Halep will be hopeful of doing the same when she takes on Lesia Tsurenko as she will be looking to extend her great run which all started around this time last year which has in turn taken her to world number three in the rankings.

However, this opening week is all about the build-up to a potential grudge match in the quarter-
finals, and the Wimbledon crowd will be hoping that Maria Sharapova also does her part on Thursday when she faces Timea Bacsinszky.

The fifth seed dispatched of Samantha Murray in emphatic fashion after dropping just one game, and all roads lead to her possible clash with Williams in the round after next provided both continue to win.

Nevertheless, the value is elsewhere with a number of intriguing encounters, not least Heather Watson taking on Angelique Kerber.

The German arrived at SW19 in good form after reaching the final at Eastbourne, but she has struggled to convince on the big occasion and Watson will be looking to take advantage of any nerves she may have in front of a partisan crowd.

Although the pair have never met previously, Watson will be a tricky test for Kerber, particularly after coming through her first round match in convincing fashion and we fancy the Brit to have her say in the match and take a set off her rival even if it is in a losing cause.

Ana Ivanovic and Sabine Lisicki are also in action after making impressive starts to the tournament, while Eugenie Bouchard will look to stay on course to make the latter stages of another Grand Slam ahead of her clash with Silvia Soler-Espinosa.

Elsewhere, another youngster who seems to relish the prospect of playing on this surface is Camila Giorgi, and the Italian will be looking ahead to her second round match-up with Alison Riske.

The American does represent a tough test, but given the contrast in form this year coupled with Giorgi's win in their only previous meeting, back the 22-year-old to come through unscathed.

Eastbourne champion Madison Keys is also in action after seeing off the dangerous Monica Puig last time out, while Kaia Kanepi, fresh from her upset against Jelena Jankovic will now look to push on and make a memorable run in the tournament.

Recommended Bets:

Back Kerber to beat Watson 2-1 @ 3.55n/a

Back Giorgi to beat Riske @ 1.84/5

Back Kanepi to beat Shvedova @ 1.9210/11