Wimbledon: Big names start to Fall

Three-time finalist Andy Roddick has been knocked out in straight sets by world number 44 Felicano Lopez. The Spaniard emphatically won two consecutive tie-breaks on course to winning 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 over the American. Lopez is still 200/1 for the championship with sportingbet although his price has been cut across the board.

The exit of Roddick follows hot on the heels of the big shock of the tournament so far on the women’s side which saw French Open champion Li Na beaten on Thursday. The number three seed had two match points of her own, but couldn’t convert and eventually lost 3-6 6-4 8-6 to world number 62 Sabine Lisicki. The German was 66/1 for the title at one stage yesterday, but now rates as one of the serious contenders at a best price of 10/1 with VictorChandler.

Maria Sharapova is 4/1 favourite with Boylesports after edging past British 17-year-old hopeful Laura Robson 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. The women’s competition still looks wide-open with both Williams sisters among those to have dropped sets in the early rounds. Number eight seed Petra Kvitova has been among the most impressive so far and her odds have come into a best of just 7/1 with Betfred.