Who will be Wimbledon 2021’s women’s singles champion?

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We’re already closing in on the latter stages of Wimbledon 2021, and in the women’s singles, there has been plenty of drama. Reigning champion from two years ago, Simona Halep, withdrew pre-tournament, and so there will be a new name engraved on the women’s singles trophy. Serena Williams was also attempting to level Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles, but was forced to withdraw from her first round match.

Unlike the men’s tournament, where the big three are usually so dominant, the 2021 Wimbledon women’s odds are too difficult to call – and in Grand Slam competition, it’s impossible to predict a winner. Read on as we take a look at some of the market leaders.

Ashleigh Barty

The WTA World Number 1 will be looking to overcome the disappointment of a second-round exit at the French Open last month – and Barty will also be looking to surpass her tournament best of a fourth-round exit at Wimbledon last time out, in 2019. A good showing at SW19 will ensure that Barty retains her number 1 status, and she can do so by reaching the semi-finals. 

Barty was forced to overcome the challenge of Spanish Carla Suárez Navarro in the first round, but secured a straight sets victory in round two. She now faces Czech Kateřina Siniaková.

Aryna Sabalenka

There’s another woman on the WTA tour looking to become the World Number 1 and Sabalenka is also in contention. The Belarusian can attain the top ranking by winning the women’s singles title.

The 23-year-old is currently ranked fourth in the world, and has 10 career titles to her name – although is seeking out her maiden Grand Slam victory. Sabalenka has already achieved her best performance at Wimbledon to date – and after knocking out qualifier Monica Niculescu and Brit wildcard Katie Boulter, she faces another qualifier in María Camila Osorio Serrano, in round three.

Iga Świątek

Seeded seventh at Wimbledon and ranked ninth in the world – a career high – Świątek made her breakthrough last year, when she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and went on to win on clay at the French Open. A similar finish at this year’s first Grand Slam of the year has been followed by a good start at Wimbledon – as Świątek is in the draw for the fourth round.

She’s in deadly form at the moment, and her third round victory out on Court 12 was testament to that – as she beat Irina-Camelia Begu 6-1, 6-0 – and became the first woman through to the fourth round. In the difficult half of the draw, she could go on to face Sabalenka later in the tournament, but for now, she’ll be looking to challenge in what could be her best chance to win another major title.

And the rest

While we saw many of the seeded stars eliminated from the first round – not least two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová – the other women looking to have their name engraved on the trophy include Karolína Plíšková (eighth seed), Garbiñe Mu