WIMBLEDON 99: BETTING

RICHARD KRAJICEK is the value bet to win the men's singles at Wimbledon, which gets under way this morning. The No 5 seed figures in easily the softest quarter of the draw and appears to have a clear run through to the quarter-finals, in which he would have every chance of eliminating Andre Agassi, the No 4 seed, before holding equally sound prospects against Pat Rafter in the semi-finals.

Pete Sampras is, of course, the deserved favourite. However, Sampras is undoubtedly in the tougher half of the draw and represents poor value at 6-4 to win seven consecutive games.

Martina Hingis, however, should not be opposed in the women's singles. Hingis, sure to be fired up by her recent defeat at the hands of the aging Steffi Graf in Paris, has the best of the draw and appears to have a clear passage through to the finals, where she could avenge that French defeat by Graf.

MEN'S SINGLES

C H L S T

P Sampras 5-4 11-8 5-4 6-4 11-8

T Henman 13-2 7-1 7-1 8-1 8-1

R Krajicek 8-1 8-1 8-1 9-1 7-1

P Rafter 9-1 9-1 10-1 11-1 10-1

A Agassi 12-1 16-1 12-1 14-1 9-1

G Rusedski 12-1 14-1 12-1 14-1 20-1

LADIES SINGLES

C H L S T

M Hingis 11-8 6-4 11-8 5-4 6-4

S Graf 4-1 3-1 7-2 4-1 11-4

V Williams 5-1 5-1 9-2 5-1 5-1

L Davenport 10-1 12-1 8-1 9-1 12-1

M Seles 9-1 12-1 12-1 12-1 10-1

J Novotna 10-1 16-1 14-1 14-1 16-1

C Coral, H William Hill, L Ladbrokes, S Stanley, T Tote

n Suggested bet: pounds 1 on Richard Krajicek to win the mens singles at 9- 1 (Stanley); pounds 1 on Martina Hingis to win the ladies singles at 6-4 (William Hill and the Tote). (pounds 2 staked).

Ian Davies