2025 Wimbledon Public Sentiment & Betting Survey

As anticipation builds for Wimbledon 2025, a new OLBG survey conducted by YouGov provides an overview of how the UK public is engaging with the tournament this year, both on and off the court. From attitudes towards AI in tennis and favourite players to betting behaviour and match-day plans, the findings offer a broad view of public sentiment around one of the sport’s most iconic events. 

OLBG surveyed 2,180 UK adults to better understand how the British public feels about technology in tennis, who they want to see in the Wimbledon final, and how, if at all, they plan to bet on the tournament. Here's what the public had to say.

Key Findings:

• One in four men think they could win a point against a pro, with a year of training - 26% of men (vs 12% of women) said they could win a point against a professional tennis player after a year with a professional coach.
• Over a third of Brits set to watch Wimbledon this summer - 37% of respondents plan to watch Wimbledon on TV this year, while only 5% say they’re likely to attend the tournament in person.
• 50% wouldn’t trust AI to predict match outcomes, 34% believe AI will replace line judges permanently, 42% are worried AI will cost people their jobs, like line judges in tennis.
• Jack Draper is the UK’s top pick - 19% of respondents said they'd most like to see Jack Draper in this year’s final, narrowly ahead of Djokovic and Alcaraz (both at 18%).
• Roger Federer crowned Wimbledon’s greatest of all time - 22% named Federer the greatest player ever to compete at Wimbledon, far ahead of Borg (7%), Serena Williams (6%), Nadal, Navratilova, and Murray (5% each).
• Over one in ten sports bettors (13%) plan to bet on Wimbledon 2025 
• Grand Slams drive most tennis betting - While only 7% of sports bettors stake on tennis year-round, 22% say they only bet on the four Grand Slams.
• 37% who have bet on Wimbledon before say current player form influences their bets most, although 19% still go with gut feeling.

42% of Respondents Are Concerned About AI Taking Over Jobs in Tennis

When asked whether they’d trust artificial intelligence to correctly predict the outcome of a Wimbledon match, just 14% of survey respondents said they would. Meanwhile, half of respondents (50%) said they wouldn’t trust AI for match predictions, suggesting a general lack of confidence in AI’s ability to forecast sporting outcomes.

As technology becomes more integrated into tennis, 34% believe that AI will permanently replace human line judges in the sport. However, 28% disagree, indicating that many still see a future for traditional officiating at Wimbledon and beyond.

Beyond officiating, concerns around AI replacing human roles in tennis are becoming more visible. 42% of respondents agreed they are concerned about AI taking over jobs like line judging, while 22% disagreed, showing a growing awareness and division around AI’s impact on employment within sport.

Over a Third of Brits (37%) Set To Watch Wimbledon This Summer

When asked about their plans to watch Wimbledon this year, 37% of respondents said they’re likely to tune in and catch the tournament on TV, showing that more than a third of the public is gearing up for a summer of tennis action from the comfort of their homes.

However, when it comes to attending the iconic event in person, the enthusiasm drops significantly. Only 5% of respondents said they’re likely to head to SW19 for the tournament itself, suggesting that for most fans, Wimbledon remains a TV tradition rather than a live experience. A decisive 93% stated they’re not likely to attend the event in person.

One in Four Men Believe They Could Win a Point Against a Pro – With a Year of Training

When asked whether they believed they could win a single point against a professional tennis player after a full year of training with a professional coach, 19% of respondents said yes, while 75% said no.

Breaking the results down by gender, 26% of men said they believed they could win a point against a professional player after a year of training, compared to just 12% of women. This suggests a notable confidence gap between men and women when it comes to taking on elite-level competition, even hypothetically.

Jack Draper Edges Out Djokovic and Alcaraz as Fan Favourite

When asked which players they would most like to see in the Wimbledon 2025 men’s singles final, most respondents placed rising British star Jack Draper at the top of the list, with 19% selecting him as one of their preferred finalists.

Tied just behind Draper were two major names in tennis: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, both selected by 18% of respondents. Current World No. 1 Jannik Sinner came in lower at 4%, while other players, including Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Holger Rune, each received 1% or less.

Roger Federer Named the Greatest Ever Wimbledon Player by UK Fans

Roger Federer was chosen as the greatest player ever to compete at Wimbledon, with 22% of respondents selecting him above all others. The Swiss eight-time champion led the field by a clear margin, reflecting his long-standing legacy on the grass courts.

Following Federer, Bjorn Borg was next, with 7% of respondents naming him the greatest. A handful of other tennis legends also received support, including Serena Williams (6%), Rafael Nadal (5%), Martina Navratilova (5%), and Andy Murray (5%), showing that greatness at Wimbledon spans both eras and genders.

Jake Ashton, Sports and Entertainment Betting Expert at OLBG, comments:

Jake Ashton

Senior News Editor

“Fans are clearly divided when it comes to AI in tennis. 42% are worried it could replace jobs like line judging, and 50% wouldn’t trust it to predict match results either. There’s still a strong desire to keep the human touch in the sport. At the same time, it’s clear Wimbledon is still a major draw, with more than a third of Brits planning to tune in this year. What really jumps out, though, is the home support. Jack Draper is the top pick for who fans want to see in the final, while Roger Federer continues to reign as the GOAT in the eyes of the public. People know exactly who they want to back, and who they don’t. There’s also a fascinating confidence gap when it comes to playing tennis. A quarter of men reckon they could win a point against a pro after just a year of training, but only 12% of women say the same. It’s a fascinating insight into how people view themselves compared to the elite level of the sport.”

Over One in Ten Sports Bettors Plan to Bet on Wimbledon 2025

Among UK adults who already place bets on sports, 13% said they intend to bet on Wimbledon 2025. While the majority, 78%, said they have no plans to bet on this year’s tournament, 9% are still undecided.

For comparison, our recent 2025 Grand National betting survey found that 17% of Brits planned to place a bet on the Grand National, one of the most heavily bet-on events of the year. This shows that while Wimbledon may not quite match the betting buzz of the Grand National, interest in betting on the tennis tournament is still notably high.

Wimbledon Bets Remain Low-Stakes for Most

13% of respondents who bet on sports typically stake between £5 and £50, while 11% bet less than £5. Higher spenders are less common, only 4% bet £51–£100, 2% bet between £101 and £500, and just 1% bet over £500 during the tournament.

Most Tennis Bettors Focus on Grand Slams Over Year-Round Betting

When it comes to tennis betting habits, only 7% of UK sports bettors said they place bets on tennis throughout the year. In contrast, 22% said they only bet on the four Grand Slam tournaments, including Wimbledon.

What Influences Wimbledon Bets the Most?

Among those who bet on Wimbledon, player form is the most influential factor, with 37% saying current performance plays the biggest role in their decision-making.

Other data-led insights matter too, with 12% citing a player’s surface record and 10% looking at head-to-head stats. Meanwhile, 19% say they rely on gut feeling, making instinct the second most common influence overall.

Less common factors included nationality (8%), player popularity (5%), and tipsters (3%), suggesting most bettors prefer to rely on performance indicators over external opinions or sentiment.

Richard Moffat

CEO & Gambling Industry Expert

“It’s encouraging to see strong betting interest around Wimbledon 2025, especially with over one in ten (13%) planning to get involved. While tennis betting is still a niche compared to staples like football and horse racing, the data shows that Wimbledon continues to draw attention, particularly during the Grand Slam season. Most punters are keeping their stakes relatively modest, but what stands out is the smart, stats-led approach. Player form is the biggest factor influencing bets, followed by surface records and head-to-head data. This shows just how considered today’s betting decisions are, even if instinct still plays a part for some.”