Top odds & multi selections for 2017 Wimbledon semi finals

THINGS just got a whole lot easier for Roger Federer at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships.

The Swiss star had no trouble with Milos Raonic on Wednesday evening, downing last year’s finalist in straight sets to book a spot in the semi finals.

It was a different story altogether for Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.

A hip complaint appeared to hamper the defending champion as he dropped the last two sets 6-1, 6-1 to Sam Querrey.

It is the first time since 2009 that an American has reached the semis of the men’s singles at a major – a stat Murray grasped better than many in the press tent.

Andy Murray may have lost, but nothing got past him post-match…#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Uniks77WKu

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2017

It was a dodgy elbow that undid Djokovic, who was forced to retire shortly after losing the first set to Tomas Berdych.

Those results leave Federer as an almost unbackable -303.03 favourite in the outright betting at CrownBet.com.au.

His closest challenger is Marin Cilic (+400), who required five sets to see off Rafa Nadal’s conquerer, Gilles Muller.

The women’s draw is considerably tougher to pick.

Impressive wins over Angelique Kerber and Svetlana Kuznetsova have launched Garbine Muguruza into +150 title favouritism.

Hot on her heels is local hero Johanna Konta (+225), whose gutsy three-set win over Simona Halep made her the first British woman since Virginia Wade in 1978 to reach the Wimbledon semi finals in the singles.

Great to see Johanna Konta make the semi-finals at #wimbledon first British woman in 39 years. I never quite made it to a Grand Slam! pic.twitter.com/o9JS8loTqX

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) July 12, 2017

Standing in her path to glory is Venus Williams – a +275 chance to claim her sixth title at the All England Club.

The wild card of the draw is Magdalena Rybarikova (+700).

The unseeded Slovak has already taken out pre-tournament favourite Karolina Pliskova and an in-form Coco Vandeweghe.

Can she add Muguruza to her list of victims?

Garbine Muguruza (14) vs. Magdalena Rybarikova

Where the heck has Rybarikova been hiding this form? The 28-year-old Slovak has pottered around the WTA Tour for many years now without showing anything quite like this. She came in with only two career wins from nine Wimbledon campaigns, both achieved in 2015. She beat Muguruza in the lead-up event at Birmingham and, if only because there is no point picking a four-leg multi that pays $3 and change, we think she may do it again.

Johanna Konta (6) vs. Venus Williams (10)

This is a doozy. From day one, Konta has shown the grit, spirit and class required to win a Grand Slam. She had to dig deep in difficult matches against Donna Vekic, Caroline Garcia and Halep, but will those slogs hinder or help her in the semis? Venus is playing well, but she is yet to face a fighter of Konta’s calibre. We are picking the former Aussie, but we would not blame you for taking the +105 odds on Williams.

Marin Cilic (7) vs. Sam Querrey (24)

Will we see a repeat of the epic these two put on back at Wimbledon 2012? Querrey has played three consecutive five-setters to get here, although the latter stages against Murray were hardly taxing. Cilic, on the other hand, had not dropped a set until Muller took him to the wire. The American and the Croat have met three times on grass, and all three clashes have gone the distance – with Cilic triumphing on each occasion.

Tomas Berdych (11) vs. Roger Federer (3)

Berdych must try to do what nobody else has even threatened to at this tournament. The big Czech got a free pass through the quarters, but he is no stranger to the last four of a Grand Slam. Compared to most, he also has a decent record against Federer: six wins from 24 attempts. But in this form, at his favourite event, with his chief rivals done and dusted, how could anybody possibly bet against Roger reaching the final?