The ATP Queens Aegon Championships began Monday at the Queens Club in London. Rafael Nadal gets no time to rest, fresh off his French Open win over Roger Federer in a classic final. This tennis tournament is played on grass instead of clay but Nadal still leads the odds to win it.
Nadal is now even with Bjorn Borg for a record six French Open titles after his win on Sunday. The Aegon Championships serve as preparation to defend his Wimbledon title. He was a winner at Queens in 2008, but two weeks on clay takes a toll on anyone. As the No. 1 seed, he has a bye into the second round.
Andy Murray is second in the odds and lost to Nadal in the semifinals at Roland Garros. Murray has good value here with Federer and Novak Djokovic absent. Federer was going to play in the Gerry Weber Open but opted to rest a groin injury. Djokovic is also sitting out with an injury. Murray won at Queens in 2009 and also has a bye into the second round as the No. 2 seed.
Andy Roddick comes in third from oddsmakers because his powerful serve should do well on the grass court. He withdrew from the French Open because of an injury should he should have plenty of rest. Roddick is a four-time champion at Queens and could become the first to win it five times. Two years ago, he was runner-up to Federer at Wimbledon. As the No. 3 seed, he faces Feliciano Lopez in the second round.
Next in the odds is Juan Martin del Potro. The former U.S. Open champion is back on track after recovering from injuries last year. He was beaten by Djokovic in the French Open last week but he’s a big hitter that should do well in the shorter week-long tournament in London. He beat Denis Istomin in the first round and now faces Igor Kunitsyn.
Sam Querrey won the 2011 Aegon Championships and has decent value again as an underdog. He beat Kei Nishikori in the first round and now faces Rainer Schuettler. Querrey has a tough draw with Stanislas Wawrinka, Giles Simon and Nadal on his half.
Aegon Championships Outright Odds (provided by William Hill)
Rafael Nadal: 15/8
Andy Murray: 4/1
Andy Roddick: 5/1
Juan Martin del Potro: 6/1
Jo-Wilifried Tsonga: 12/1
Sam Querrey: 16/1
David Nalbandian: 25/1
Marin Cilic: 25/1
Michael Llodra: 25/1
Fernando Verdasco: 28/1
Kevin Anderson: 33/1
Giles Simon: 40/1
Ivan Ljubicic: 40/1
Janko Tipsarevic: 40/1
Radek Stepanek: 50/1
Xavier Malisse: 50/1
Thomaz Bellucci: 80/1
Adrian Mannarino: 125/1
James Ward: 150/1
Donald Young: 150/1
Michael Russell: 200/1
Igor Kunitsyn: 250/1