Wimbledon Mens Singles: To win 2nd Quarter: David Ferrer

Much of the talk pre-tournament has focused on the controversial decision of the Wimbledon seeding committee to place Rafa Nadal at number five, his world ranking, even though he is only there because of long-term injury last year.

The headline-makers have made much of the likely showdown this has thrown up between Nadal and Federer in the quarter-finals, but the biggest beneficiary of the decision is probably David Ferrer.

Nadal’s fellow-countryman is seeded four and appears to have a wonderful opportunity to reach his first semi-final at the All-England Club. He is a best price of 7/4 (BetVictor) to do that, and subsequently win his quarter and that looks like a good bet to take.

The 31-year-old has been handed a dream of a draw that sees him in the same section as only one other player ranked inside the world’s top 10 - Juan Martin Del Potro. Ferrer has made at least the last eight of each and every one of the previous seven Grand Slam events he has entered. He has progressed to at least the semi-finals in four of the last five.

Furthermore, the French Open finalist should not fear Del Potro if they do meet as scheduled in a quarter-final at SW19. The Argentinian has lost their last four meetings and was trounced 6-3 6-2 6-3 when they met at Wimbledon last summer.

To put things in perspective, Murray is 1/2 (PaddyPower) to win his quarter and Djokovic is 3/10 (Coral) to top his. Ferrer looks just as likely, given the draw, and therefore is a better bet at the prices.