Johanna Larsson vs Venus Williams

Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams will make her 21st appearance at the tournament as the ninth seed. She has lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish in 2000-01, 2005 and 2007-08, and has been the runner-up on four other occasions as well, including last year (l. Muguruza).
The American has an 18-2 record in Wimbledon first round matches and a 40-3 record against outside top 50 players at the All England Club. However, Williams, coming into this fortnight without playing a grass tournament, has suffered four opening-round losses this season out of seven events.
Johanna Larsson made her debut at Wimbledon in 2008, losing the second round of the qualifications. Since then, the Swede has made seven main draw appearances at this slam, suffering first-round losses in each of them. In fact, Larsson has not won a slam match since last year’s French Open.
Even more disastrous is Larsson’s record on grass in general. Since 2010, there have only been three seasons when she won has one match on this surface at any level. At Mallorca last month, Larsson defeated Cirstea in the first round, ending her twelve-match losing streak on tour-level grass, dating back to 2011.
Williams defeated Larsson in straight sets (6-3 7-5) at a Fed Cup tie in 2013, with the match being played on outdoor hard-courts in Delray Beach, USA. Given the contrast between the pair’s records at Wimbledon, the former world #1 is expected to progress further.

Tennis Picks: Venus Williams
Odds: 1.80