Bookmakers on Wimbledon Alert as ‘Patriotic Double’ can serve up £20 million payout

Jubilation for British tennis fans could lead to sorrow for bookmakers, as industry fears Andy Murray and Johana Konta both achieving a ‘Brit Double’ victory at SW19 this summer will result in record losses for bookmakers.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes has told SBC: “A Murray/Konta double would be bad news for us. We’re anticipating an industry payout of + £20 million”.

“Had you have asked us a week ago, a Murray win would’ve been a great result for us – but it’s all change as support for the Scot increases tenfold.” Apati added.

Paddy Power’s Lee Price also told SBC: “We stand to pay out in excess of £1million should Murray and Konta both win their respective titles” Price described this year’s women’s event as: “one of the most open sporting events in memory”.

“This was exacerbated by the top two favourites going out in Round 2 – former Champion Petra Kvitova and new world number one Karolina Pliskova”.

“So far, we have had six different favourites for the title: Kviova, Pliskova, Konta, Vandeweghe, Halep and now Muguruza,” he said.

Konta has already made history by becoming the first British women’s Wimbledon semi-finalist for 39 years, she is currently the second favourite to win the tournament. Murray is currently third favourite to retain his title, as the Scot continues to be plagued by persistent hip problems.

Whilst the men’s competition hasn’t provided too many upsets, Paddypower did admit to breathing a sigh of relief when Rafael Nadal was defeated, after his French Open success renewed enthusiasm from punters.