Wimbledon Tip: Sharapova v Pironkova

Wimbledon favourite Maria Sharapova will face a stern examination of her title credentials on Wednesday and there’s value in backing her to at least drop a set against Tsvetana Pironkova.

The underdog has saved both her best Grand Slam runs to date for the grass courts of the All-England Club. The Bulgarian beat Venus Williams en route to the semi-finals in 2010 and repeated the trick against the former champion in 2011. Her progress to the quarter-finals last year also included a victory over the then world number three Vera Zvonareva. Only a last eight meeting with eventual champion Petra Kvitova halted her progress, but she’s done enough to be regarded as a bit of a Wimbledon specialist regardless.

Pironkova has already raised her game on grass coming into this year’s event as well. A triumph over number one seed Agnieszka Radwanska in Eastbourne showed her capacity to upset the established order remains.

Sharapova should progress, but with her stock at an all-time high there’s an opportunistic price of 10/3 (Ladbrokes) available on Pironkova snatching a set.