Wimbledon First Round

Ben Shelton arrives at Wimbledon with stronger grass-court credentials than Otto Virtanen, and the first-round matchup reflects that gap. Shelton is heavily favored, but the betting angle that stands out most may be his set spread rather than the moneyline. The American was upset in the second round at the 2026 French Open, but his recent results still keep him firmly in the Wimbledon mix as the No. 4 ranked player. He reached the quarterfinals at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 2025 and also made the quarterfinals at the Australian Open earlier this year. Match Odds and Total Market Otto Virtanen Ben Shelton Moneyline +303 -421 Total 41.5 (Over -125 / Under -115) How to Watch Date Time TV Tuesday, June 30 7:30 a.m. EST ESPN / ESPN Unlimited Virtanen’s Wimbledon Resume Virtanen is making his second appearance at Wimbledon and his first Grand Slam appearance since the 2025 Australian Open. He was knocked out in the second round in 2024 and has reached the second round only twice in his Grand Slam career. Shelton’s Grass-Court Edge Shelton made a quarterfinal run at Wimbledon in 2025 and reached the fourth round in 2024. He is 6-1 on grass this year and owns an 18-12 record on the surface overall. Virtanen did not appear at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 2025, and his history there is limited compared with Shelton’s. The two have never met before, but the matchup points toward Shelton’s experience and recent success on grass. Prediction and Pick www.si.com is backing Shelton to cover the set spread at 1.5, which means he needs to win 3-0 or 3-1. After a down showing at Roland Garros, Shelton has a chance to build on his stronger Wimbledon run from last year. Pick: Shelton Set Spread -1.5 (-175 at DraftKings) Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Read more at: www.si.com

Shelton Enters Wimbledon as the Clear Favorite, But the Set Spread May Be the Real Play