Wimbledon Odds 2012: Favorites Who Won't Live Up to Hype

Like every tournament, Wimbledon has its contenders and pretenders. This year's men's and women's field is littered with high-profile names, but a few will fail miserably. 

According to Bovada, these are the favorites to take home the title this year. After I show you the favorites, we will break down which ones you shouldn't buy into. 

Player	Odds
Novak Djokovic	7:4
Rafael Nadal	2:1
Roger Federer	7:2
Andy Murray	13:2
Juan Martin del Potro	20:1
Milos Raonic	20:1
Serena Williams	11:4
Maria Sharapova	11:4
Petra Kvitova	10:3
Victoria Azarenka	6:1
Venus Williams	20:1
Caroline Wozniacki	20:1
Kim Clijsters	20:1

Now, who won't live up to their expectations?

Juan Martin del Potro

Del Potro made it to the fourth round of last year's Wimbledon, and he could do that much again this year. 

But he won't win his first Wimbledon title this year.

He is an excellent young player who brings energy and enthusiasm to each match. He's fun to watch, has above-average ground strokes and a developing serve.

In terms of favorites, he is still light years behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Despite Roger Federer's age and slight slide, Del Potro is still behind him as well.

He is a talented player, but don't expect to see him in this year's finals. 

Andy Murray

Murray has lost in Wimbledon's semifinals for three straight years.

In 2009, he lost to Andy Roddick. Rafael Nadal sent him packing in 2010 and 2011. All three are admirable defeats, but he still won't get over the hump this year.

I may be beating a dead horse here, but tennis really has three "great" contenders at this point. Murray is very close to Nadal, Djokovic and Federer, but he isn't there quite yet. 

He's one of seven players in the Open Era to reach the semis in all four Grand Slams in one year. He may reach the semis again, but that's as far as he goes. 

Venus Williams

Williams has five career Wimbledon titles, but her time has passed.

She hasn't won Wimbledon since 2008, and hasn't won any other Grand Slams either. Granted, she had a very solid doubles campaign in 2010 (won the French Open and Australian Open), but she isn't the player she once was.

The women's field is Maria Sharapova, and everyone else, at this point. 

Five years ago, betting against Williams would have been a terrible choice. Now, it's the opposite. 

Petra Kvitova

Kvitova won last year's Wimbledon title, but that reign won't last long.

You could call it a sophomore slump of sorts. This isn't her first professional season (2006), but I expect a letdown after last year's performance. 

Sharapova hasn't won Wimbledon since 2004, but she just beat Kvitova handily at Roland Garros. Obviously, the surface is different, but the momentum still exists.

I expect Kvitova to, at least, make the semis. But her dynamic, southpaw serve will not punch her second Wimbledon championship.