Multi-talented Artist Sofia Carson, musical sensation Alex Aiono and five-time US Open Champion Roger Federer Headline Arthur Ashe Kids' Day

Marin Cilic , NJTL winner Elizabeth Scotty, Roger Federer, Shaun T, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal
Source: Huffington Post

World No. 3 and five-time US Open champion Roger Federer will once again be participating in this year's Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. Federer has committed to take part in the star-studded event, which will be held Saturday, Aug. 26, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Federer will take part alongside other top tennis players during the show. Players who have participated in past Kids’ Days include Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, etc. While being entertained by their showcase prior to the US Open, it's also a good idea to check out the betting odds for the tennis matches for the fourth Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Beside the tennis starts, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) also announced a star-studded lineup for the Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, which is powered by Net Generation. The stadium show will feature live performances from Sofia Carson, star of Disney’s Descendants franchise, and global pop sensations Jack & Jack, along with singer-songwriter-musician Alex Aiono, and UK boy band New Hope Club. In addition to performing their hit singles, Sofia Carson and Alex Aiono will serve as co-hosts for this year’s show, which takes place Saturday, August 26th at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. The festival of tennis, music and fun honors the legacy of legendary pioneer Arthur Ashe and serves as the start of the 2017 US Open, which runs from August 28th – September 10th.

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day will be the official launch of  Net Generation, the USTA's new approach to inspire the next generation of tennis players. For the first time, American tennis will have one unified youth brand for kids to get into the sports. Embracing all aspects of youth play for kids aged 5-18, the objective of Net Generation is to provide a kid-friendly, safe connection to the sport, while also serving as a platform to celebrate individuality and self-expression. Net Generation will make it easier for kids and their parents to learn about tennis and get into the game in schools, parks and tennis clubs across the country.

For more than two decades, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has been a launching ground and showcase for artists such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Rihanna, Jonas Brothers, Fifth Harmony, Ne-Yo, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and more.

Garbine Muguruza, Roger Federer claim Wimbledon Championships

Muguruza looks stunning in an elegant white dress as she attended the Wimbledon Champions' Dinner
Source: Press Association

After claiming the titles on grass during the weekend, Wimbledon champions Garbine Muguruza and Roger Federer swapped their tennis whites for glamorous evening wear as they arrived at the Champions' Dinner. The event, which marks the end of the tournament, took place at the Guildhall, London.

Muguruza, 23, who lost at the Wimbledon final to Serena Williams two years ago, came back to beat Venus Williams to win her second Grand Slam title.

Meanwhile, Federer beat Croatian Maran Cilic in straight sets in a emotional final due to the latter's blister that caused him a meltdown. To find out Muguruza and Federer's chance of winning in the upcoming tournaments, check out CrownBet tennis odds.

Federer and Mirka at the Champion' Dinner in London
Source: Press Association

It is Federer's eighth Wimbledon title and the win makes him the oldest men’s champion in the Open era and the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to sweep through the draw without dropping a set. Federer won another Grand Slam title earlier this year at the Australian Open.

As for Muguruza, she's the only second Spanish woman to win the Wimbledon singles title and the first since her coach Conchita Martinez triumphed back in 1994. Muguruza's mother is from Venezuela and her father is from Spain. She was born in Venezuela but moved to Spain when she was six and retains dual nationality but her current residency is listed by the women's tour as Geneva, Switzerland. In 2014, she decided to play for Spain. Muguruza joins Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Petra Kvitova among the active female players on two Grand Slam singles titles. Only Serena Williams and Venus Williams, with 23 and seven respectively, and Maria Sharapova on five, have more.

In the latest ranking updates, Muguruza is currently world's no. 5 while Federer is at no.3.

Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza In Wimbledon Final

Source: Pool/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com

Even with the absence of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, Wimbledon women's singles spotlight still shine with Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza in the final.

Williams, 37, who is a winner of seven major tennis tournaments managed to beat Britain's top female player Johanna Konta to guarantee a place for her ninth Wimbledon final. The American will be seeking a whooping sixth Wimbledon singles title and her first since 2008, when she defeated her younger sister, Serena. A year later, she lost the final to Serena.

It has been a tough two weeks for Williams who came into the tournament after involving in a fatal car crash incident, which eventually saw new evidences that pointed out she had drove lawfully.

Williams who is currently world's no. 11 will play no. 15 Garbine Muguruza of Spain, who cruised into her second Wimbledon final by ousting Magdalena Rybarikova, 6-1, 6-1, in slightly more than an hour.

Source: Pool/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com

Muguruza, the French Open champion last year, reached the final at Wimbledon in 2015, when she lost to Serena Williams in straight sets. At this point of time, Muguruza could be playing her best tennis and on top of her game. She has lost only one set in the tournament, and that was during her upset match of the world's no. 1, Angelique Kerber, in the fourth round. She was back in the game after that and dismissed Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets in the quarterfinals.

Both Williams and Muguruza will go into the final with a 3-1 head-to-head with them. In their last encounter, Muguruza defeated Williams in three sets in their quarterfinal match in Rome, Italy. The rest of the previous matches were on hardcourts with the last one in Wuhan final back in 2015. Williams certainly comes in with an advantage playing at Wimbledon final but Muguruza has already sent out an early warning saying that she has learned from her Wimbledon heartache two years' ago to beat Williams in Saturday's final.

Who will win Wimbledon?

With cloudy skies and a lack of football, British summer time is here which means just one thing for tennis fans: Wimbledon. It’s just a few weeks until the world’s best ball-hitters descend on SW19 but who will triumph on Centre Court? For the men, Andy Murray is the big favourite. The Scot is looking to win his third Wimbledon title but the world number one will face tough competition from, as always, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and the French Open champion, Rafael Nadal. The women’s category is far more open following the news that defending champion Serena Williams is expecting her first child and will miss the championship. Karolina Pliskova is the favourite in a very open field which also includes as many as ten potential winners. Following Williams’ withdrawal, it promises to be one of the most open contests in some time in the women’s category.

The men’s category is a little more closed. Andy Murray is world number one and the slight favourite to triumph at the All England Club. You’ll get odds as short as 11/4 for Murray to triumph in what would be perhaps the best twelve months of the Scot’s career. Success at Wimbledon last year was followed up by a gold medal at Rio 2016 and his first ATP World Tour title in London. A semi-final appearance at the French Open will give Murray hope but he’ll face a tough test from Roger Federer.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion has taken an extended break in recent weeks but was in excellent form before that. The Swiss has missed three of the last six Grand Slam tournaments but reached the semis in the others. Federer would love to win just one more title at the All England club to overtake Pete Sampras and make him the most successful player in the men’s singles category.

The pair is way ahead of the chasing pack. Novak Djokovic has so often been the thorn in both Murray’s and Federer’s sides but is currently in his longest run without a Grand Slam title since 2010. Djokovic is looking like a player lacking enthusiasm which is hardly ideal with Wimbledon just around the corner. Rival Federer said in a recent interview that the Serbian is too good to remain in this rut forever but perhaps it’s too big of an ask for that comeback to arrive at SW19.

After Rafael Nadal’s success in France, people are asking if the big three can become the big four again. The Spaniard has won the French-Wimbledon double twice in his career but his performance at the All England club has been pretty woeful in recent years. Nadal has got past the fourth round just once since 2011 and it would be a big ask for the Spaniard to achieve any success this year.
“Since I have had problems with my knee, since 2012, playing on grass has been very complicated for me,” the Spaniard said in a recent interview. “If I have pain in the knees then I know from experience that it’s almost impossible. If I am healthy and I am able to have the right preparation I’ll have my chances.”

It remains to be seen whether Nadal can get through two arduous weeks in good shape. Outside of the top three and a half, Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic will test any opponent unfortunate enough to be drawn against them. We can only guess how the likes of Nick Kyrgios and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will perform.

The women’s category is even more open. The tournament’s coverage will perhaps be defined by its absences. Maria Sharapova will not make her Wimbledon return this year and her supposed rival, Serena Williams will also miss out. The woman who has won seven singles titles at the All England Club will miss the rest of the season following her pregnancy. Her sister, Venus will be flying the Williams flag but she is far from the favourite.

Karolina Pliskova gets the backing of most of the bookies but in what other tennis Grand Slam has the favourite been as high as the 6/1 odds with Betway as of 14th June? However, this would not be a good punt. The world number three has never got past the second round at SW19 and it seems that her game isn’t suited to grass.

The chasing pack includes Victoria Azarenka, Madison Keys and Garbine Muguruza but one woman who could well triumph is Simona Halep. She may have lost the French Open final but the 25-year-old is on excellent form, triumphing at the Madrid Open and reaching the final in Italy as well. Halep must be considered one of the favourites in a hugely competitive field which also features 20-year-old Jelena Ostapenko. The Latvian hasn’t got past the second round at Wimbledon before but after her incredible victory at the French Open, she will have tremendous confidence.

It promises to be a hugely exciting championship at Wimbledon this year. The women’s field is as open as it has been in recent years while the men’s is more of a two-horse race. The home crowd will be hoping for a Murray/Federer title clash on the final Sunday with both players on the cusp of something special. Andy Murray should prove to be too much for his Swiss rival thanks in part to the home crowd but the women’s singles title is anyone’s guess. Simona Halep and Madison Keys would be good bets but wouldn’t it be the nice if 20-year-old Jelena Ostapenko followed up her French Open title with success at SW19?