... and with a bit more info:

Not a bad set of R1 draws for the GB women, with Anne and Bally (more or less as usual!) getting the pick of them.

L128: (WC) Johanna Konta WR 217 v (28) Christina McHale (USA) WR 30 (CH 29 last week)

H2H 1-1, Christina won in 2008, Jo in 2009, both 3-setters on US hard courts.

L128: Heather Watson WR 110 v Iveta Benesova (CZE) WR 52 (CH 25 in 2009)

Benesova is on a 4-match losing streak, including her loss to Tara in Birmingham and another in Rosmalen this week.

L128: (WC) Naomi Broady WR 227 v Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) WR 71 (CH 40 in 2006)

LDL finally got her first ever main draw win at Wimbledon (at the age of 30) last year in R1 against Oprandi. She won the Marseille 100K event last week, but that was on clay, by far her preferred surface.

L128: Anne Keothavong WR 77 v Laura Pous-Tio (ESP) WR 100 (CH 72 in Jan)

Like Benesova, Pous-Tio is on a 4-match losing streak and has lost her last 5 at Wimbledon (main draw and qualifying) since winning her very first Wimbledon qualifying match in 2005.

L128: (WC) Laura Robson WR 111 v (24) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) WR 26 (CH 4 in 2011)

H2H 0-1, 5 & 3 at Hopman Cup last year. Schiavone has experienced losing to a Brit at Wimbledon before, when Mel South upset her in R1 in 2006.

L128: Elena Baltacha WR 101 v Karin Knapp (ITA) WR 109 (CH 35 in 2008)

Knapp has only played in the main draw at Wimbledon once before, back in 2007 when she lost to Vaidisova in R1.

Madeline wrote:

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Laura's first opponent, Schiavone, retired from her doubles semi in 's-Hertogenbosch today, with a right thigh injury.

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 Hope Laura can just focus on her game and winning, not her opponent's injury.

DavidC wrote:

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The vast majority of retirements in the week before a grand slam are precautionary - so it is unlikely that Schiavone's injury will be a factor. It's a tough draw for Laura. Schiavone was poor on the surface a few years ago, but is more confident now (reached the Wimbledon quarters in 2009) and a good competitor (she saved 8 matchpoints to win one match in Rosmalen this week)

Sample latest bookie's odds suggest 3 wins would be a par performance. I'm surprised that Anne is so overwhelming a favourite, even with a very good draw, given her previous Wimbledon record.

Anne 1.21 - 3.51
Bally 1.26 - 3.15
Hev 1.50 - 2.25
Naomi 2.37 - 1.45
Laura 2.52 - 1.40
JoKo 4.76 - 1.11

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 Agree about Schiavone's withdrawal, very unlikely to be a factor next week.

Just had a look at the latest odds via oddschecker and these are the best prices now available for our sextet.

Anne 1.36

Bally 1.50

Hev 1.44 (shorter price)

Naomi 3.15

Laura 2.62

JoKo 6.5

I agree three has to be par with two out of three coming from the big favourites and one out of three coming from the outsiders.

murray_2k9 wrote:

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Stupid qn, is it Kvitovas side of the draw that kick off on Monday?

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 The defending women's champion is always scheduled to open her defence on Tuesday. Hence it will be JoKo, Naomi and Hev on Monday

Helen40 wrote:

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Madeline wrote:

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I'm no betting expert but I have asked this before - high is bad.

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 Thanks Madeline. I guess I also need to know what number means 50:50 chance of winning. ie are all our girls likely to lose if the odds are to be believed?

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 50:50 which would be even money is 2.00, 67:33 which a 2 in 3 chance of winning is 1.50 and another example 33:67 which is a 1 in 3 chance would be 3.00.

I apologise if that is too complicated as like anything when you understand it, its easy and when you don't it just seems completely baffling.

So in summary we basically have 3 players who have a 2 out of 3 chance, one with nearly a 50:50 chance, another one with a 1 out of 3 chance and finally JoKo with a 1 in 6 chance.

Aha tony orient just got in before me !!