Two of the tour’s premier athletes went head-to-head for the Aegon at London’s Queen’s Club in a rain-delayed final on Monday.  After Murray’s loss to Nadal in the semifinals at Roland Garros, the grass courts at the Queen’s Club looked much more comfortable than the red clay of Roland Garros for both finalists.

Tsonga rode his powerful serve and broke Murray to go up 4-2 and then served out to seal the first set.  For the match, Murray only managed one break in ten opportunities against the in-form Frenchman who downed hometown favorite James Ward in the semis.

At 5-5 in the second set, Tsonga appeared to have the edge as Murray was serving at 0-40.  But, the Scotsman fired an ace and followed a Tsonga net cord that appeared to be headed over the net but fell back, with a crisp cross court winner.  Murray held serve and grabbed the momentum from the deflated Tsonga.  Joe Willy held and forced a tiebreaker but was clearly distraught at his missed opportunity.

Murray closed out the tiebreaker in quick fashion and got an early third set break when he finally converted his tenth break point opportunity to seal the third set in the 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory.  It was Murray’s second triumph at the prestigious Aegon Championships.

Tsonga completed the tournament in style.  He dusted off top seed Rafa Nadal in the quarters and is playing with the athleticism that makes him a good chance to make a run at Wimbledon.  Tsonga’s serve and his pressing court coverage make him a definite threat on the grass at Wimbledon where points are shorter than in Paris.

Wimbledon Odds

Bookmaker Rafa Nadal, fresh off his 6^th Roland Garros title is the early favorite with the bookmakers at 2/1.  Third ranked Roger Federer, a six time winner at Wimbledon, and fresh off an upset over second ranked Novak Djokovic in Paris, is listed at 5-2 on the early line.

Djokovic is listed at 11-4 and fourth ranked Scotsman Andy Murray is at 6-1. Murray has been in top form, emphasized by his win at the Aegon Championship.  Murray has also made the semi-finals two years in a row.  If Murray can remain focused and not get sidetracked by the Press, he has a great chance to claim his first Grand Slam Championship. London will certainly be in a state of frenzy as the Scot progresses through each round.

Aegon runner-up Jo Wilfried Tsonga is at 20-1 and the player nobody wants in their draw, Juan Martin Del Potro, is at 16-1.  The Argentine has a Grand Slam in hand and has been improving every week from his wrist surgery.  This is a favorable surface for the 6’6” Del Potro who will be a difficult out for anybody.

For some young blood, the bookmakers very much like Canada’s Milos Raonic (33-1) and John Isner who pushed Nadal to five sets in Paris is at 50-1.  These two power servers pose problems for everybody in the field.

Robin Soderling (25-1), Tomas Berdych (25-1) and Andy Roddick (33-1) could pull some surprises but have not shown the firepower to win on the grass.  Sixth ranked David Ferrer is a surprising longshot at 150-1, well behind serving specialist Ivo Karlovic (100-1).  The big Russian is always tough at Wimbledon.

The Wimbledon qualifying rounds are from June 13 – June 16.  The draw is scheduled for June 17 at 10:00 a.m.  Official play runs from June 20^th through July 3^rd.  The field this year has upset potential from top to bottom and should make for new attendance records as well as new television records.

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