Weekend Review: Djokovic dominates as bookies and bettors battle in wonderful women’s Euros
Serb storms to seventh Wimbledon title while France flatten Italy and horseracing’s summer schedule ramps up
Novak Djokovic secured his fourth consecutive Wimbledon men’s singles title after a thrilling 3-1 win over Nick Kyrgios in a bumper weekend of summer sport.
Djokovic (3/10) strode to his seventh Wimbledon win on Centre Court after recovering from losing the first set to the fiery Australian (11/4) before a cool, calm and collected comeback saw him cement himself in the pantheon of tennis greatness.
It was the Serb’s 21st men’s major title, putting him one behind his Spanish rival Rafael Nadal.
The bookies were able to walk away happy from SW19, with the women’s singles final also going the way of the layers as 23-year-old Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina (13/10) became the youngest Wimbledon singles champion since 2011 with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over third seed Ons Jabeur (33/50).
"It's the one that looks like she's had about 700 drinks, bro!" 😅#BBCTennis #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/6cpFbe1hAV
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 10, 2022
Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “Djokovic took an incredible fourth men’s Wimbledon title in a row on Sunday in a result which, on the day, we managed some profit out of as punters searched for some value away from the very short odds on Djokovic, with Kyrgios taking a set also helping.
“In the woman’s final, favourite Ons Jabeur came up just short against 23-year-old Elena Rybakina, another result which went our way,” he added.
The women’s Euro 2022 tournament ramped up over the weekend, with interest in the event having been spiked due to the absence of a men’s summer World Cup.
A series of draws left the bookies in bloom, before France (2/5) turned the screw on Italy (11/2), running out 5-1 winners in Rotherham.
Grace Geyoro netted a 36-minute hattrick in a first half blitz that saw Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Delphine Cascarino also get in on the action.
⚽️ 9'
⚽️ 41'
⚽️ 44'Grace Geyoro marks her 50th appearance in a France shirt with her first international hattrick
Running the show. 🎩 pic.twitter.com/clHazPwBwy
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) July 10, 2022
Gill said: “The woman’s Euros is underway and it is great to see four matches from the tournament in the top 10 biggest events of the weekend.
“Netherland’s 1-1 draw with Sweden was a great result for the book, as was Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Iceland. But France’s 5-1 win over Italy was definitely one for the punters.”
Bet365’s Steve Freeth added: “One of the worst football results of the weekend came at the New York Stadium with France hammering Italy 5-1. We knew our fate early on with Grace Geyoro bagging a first half hattrick with France now 10/3 favourites to win the women’s Euros.”
Elsewhere, in horseracing, a stacked weekend across the country at Newmarket, York and Ascot saw the bookies and bettors do battle, trading blow for blow with neither pulling clear.
In Newmarket, Alcohol Free went into the July Cup at 14-1 after a disappointing performance in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier in the year, set to face off against several of the runners that bested the four-year-old at Ascot.
Instead, Rob Hornby rode her to a length-and-a-half victory over early pacesetter Naval Crown, with pre-race favourite Perfect Power failing to impress.
Alcohol Free is very special! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/yiqUWGZRwA
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 9, 2022
Virgin Bet’s Janis Strauts said: “On Saturday, 11 ITV races taking place made for a busy day. Alcohol Free’s 14/1 Group 1 July Cup win at Newmarket was our best result of the weekend, where a well-supported favourite, Perfect Power, failed to live up to billing.”
Up in York, Royal Aclaim burst onto the scene with a win in the City Walls Stakes, with her odds having been slashed ahead of the upcoming Nunthorpe Stakes.
Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “A star was born on the Knavesmire on Saturday. Three-year-old filly Royal Aclaim simply oozed class in pocketing a Listed sprint in majestic fashion and is now all the rage (in to around 7/2) for the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting next month. Big step up in class of course, but this was a breath-taking statement performance.”
Strauts revealed York wasn’t the happiest of stomping grounds for the operator, with favourites pulling through in two key races.
He added: “Results weren’t so positive at York, where Anmaat won the John Smith’s Cup Handicap at 5/1 favourite and Danni California won the Stayers’ handicap at 10/3, making for two poor results for us.”