How To Bet on Tennis: Strategies, Types & Winning Tips

Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of fans tuning in to watch matches every year. Its popularity translates into the betting world as well, with Tennis Betting becoming a favorite among many punters due to its simplicity and the wide range of betting options available.

How Tennis Betting Works

Tennis betting operates somewhat differently compared to other sports because there are no ties or draws in tennis. A standard tennis match comprises 3 to 5 sets. When you bet on a men’s or women’s tennis match, you’re essentially wagering on the player you believe will emerge as the winner. Moreover, you can place bets on other variables such as the player who will first reach a certain number of points, as well as margin and handicap bets.

Tennis matches are typically organized based on major tournaments or countries, making it easy for you to locate your preferred event. Your task is to choose the match and the betting market, determine the stake, and finally place your bet.

Tennis Odds Explained

Tennis betting odds are crucial in determining your potential earnings if your bet is successful. These odds can significantly differ from one sports betting market to another, contingent on multiple factors at play. It’s important to correctly interpret these odds to make an informed betting decision.

Most betting platforms present odds either as fractions or decimals. Decimal odds are quite straightforward: your potential winnings are calculated by multiplying the odds by your stake. On the other hand, fractional odds display the likelihood of a player’s victory. For instance, if a player’s odds are represented as 10/1, it signifies that the player has a one in ten chance of winning the match. Here’s how you calculate the odds: the formula is B/(A+B) = Win %. Consequently, the winning probability is 1/(10+1) = 9.09%.

Most Common Tennis Betting Types Explained

Match Betting:
Set Betting:
Handicap Betting:
Over/Under Betting:
First Set Winner:
Futures Betting:
Prop Betting:
In-Play/Live Betting:

This is the simplest and most common type of tennis betting. In match betting, you are simply betting on which player will win the match.

For example, if you bet on Rafael Nadal to win a match against Roger Federer, you will win the bet if Nadal wins, regardless of the scoreline.

Set betting involves predicting the exact score of the match in terms of sets.

For example, if you think Nadal will win in straight sets against Federer, you might place a set betting wager for Nadal to win 3-0 in a best-of-five set match.

Handicap betting in tennis involves giving one player a hypothetical advantage or disadvantage.

For example, if Nadal is given a -1.5 set handicap against Federer, Nadal needs to win the match by 2 or more sets for your bet to be a winner.

This type of bet involves predicting the total number of games or sets in a match. The bookmaker will set a figure, and bettors must decide whether they think the match will feature more (over) or fewer (under) games or sets.

For instance, if the over/under bet on total games in a match is set at 21.5, and you bet on ‘over,’ you would need at least 22 games to be played to win your bet.

As the name suggests, this bet involves wagering on who will win the first set of the match.

This is popular for bettors who think they have a good read on how a match will start or those who want a quick result.

This type of bet involves predicting the outcome of a tournament.

For example, you could place a futures bet on Serena Williams winning Wimbledon before the tournament begins. If Williams ends up winning the tournament, you win your bet.

Prop bets are wagers on specific occurrences or non-occurrences during a match that do not necessarily correlate with the final outcome.

Examples might include betting on the number of aces served by a player, the number of double faults, or whether there will be a tiebreak.

Live betting allows you to place bets on a match while it’s taking place. The odds will change dynamically based on what’s happening in the game.

You can bet on a wide range of outcomes, including the winner of the next point, the next game, or the next set.

Also Learn About How to Understand Betting Scores and Odds

How To Place a Tennis Bet: Step-By-Step Guide

Learning how to bet on tennis involves a sequence of simple steps that, once understood, can enhance your betting experience. Here’s how to navigate this process:

Step 1: Select a Tennis Betting Platform

To kick off your tennis betting journey, you need to find a reliable online betting platform that caters to tennis enthusiasts. Choose a platform that provides comprehensive coverage of tennis events across the globe, not just limited to the major tournaments. The ideal platform should also be accessible in your region for easy transactions.

Step 2: Set Up Your Betting Account

After selecting your preferred platform, you’ll find a sign-up link on the homepage of the bookmaker’s site. Clicking on this link will direct you to a registration form where you’ll need to input some basic information such as your contact details, bio-data, and preferred currency. The entire process should only take a few minutes. To activate your account, the bookmaker will send a confirmation link or code to the contact information you provided.

Step 3: Choose a Payment Method and Fund Your Account

With your account set up, the next step in learning how to bet on tennis is funding your account. To do this, log into your account and navigate to the ‘My Account’ section, then proceed to the banking or cashier section. From the list of available options, select your preferred payment method, ideally, one you regularly use for online transactions. After selecting your payment method, navigate to the deposit section within the cashier area, enter your desired deposit amount, and finalize the transaction with your service provider.

Step 4: Place Your Tennis Bets

Finally, it’s time to place your bets. Navigate to the tennis section of the sportsbook and choose the match you’re interested in. Select your preferred market and click on it. Repeat the process for all the selections you want to make. Once you’ve made your choices, proceed to the bet slip you’ve just created, input the amount you wish to wager, and complete the process by clicking the ‘place bet’ button.

Learn More About How to place a Sports Bet

Tips and Strategies For Betting On Tennis

Betting on tennis requires strategic planning and in-depth knowledge about the game to make informed decisions. This includes understanding tennis odds, different types of bets, player strengths, and match conditions. Below are several strategies and tips to improve your tennis betting skills and potentially increase your success rate.

Seek the Best Tennis Odds

Tennis betting involves multiple markets with varying odds. Always scout for the best tennis odds that align with your predictions. Higher odds mean higher potential returns without the need to increase your stake or diversify your bets across numerous matches. For example, if you predict a player’s dominant win, a handicap bet might offer higher odds than a simple match bet.

Leverage Matched and Arbitrage Betting

Arbitrage betting involves betting on all possible outcomes of a match to ensure a guaranteed profit, irrespective of the final result. This betting type doesn’t rely on luck or intuition but on mathematical advantages. Similarly, matched betting utilizes bookmaker bonuses to place bets, providing opportunities for profit with little risk. If a tennis match offers matched or arbitrage betting opportunities, take advantage of them.

Follow Expert Tennis Tipsters

Numerous tipsters and tennis experts offer predictions and insights online. Following these experts provides diverse viewpoints, predictions, and data sources. This can enhance your understanding of the game and provide useful information to guide your betting decisions.

Consider the Court Surface

The type of court on which a game is played can significantly influence the match’s outcome. For example, hard courts generally yield lower ball bounces and shorter rallies, while clay courts slow down the ball and produce higher bounces leading to longer rallies. Some players excel on specific surfaces more than others. Knowing these nuances can aid in making more informed betting decisions.

Maintain a Record of Your Bets

Treat tennis betting as a business by keeping track of your gains, losses, and the overall progress of your bets. This approach enables you to identify any consistent errors, pinpoint the markets where you make accurate predictions, and effectively manage your betting bankroll. Your betting record can typically be accessed in the history tab of your bookmaker’s account.

Appreciate Small Wins and Profits

While most bettors aim for large winnings, consistent smaller wins can also accumulate into substantial profits over time. Regularly securing small wins from average bets and odds can generate a steady income stream, making your betting endeavors profitable in the long run.

Pros and Cons of Betting on Tennis

Pros:

◇In-depth Information and Statistics: Tennis offers a wealth of data, including player rankings, head-to-head records, recent form, and match statistics. In addition, tennis standings provide comprehensive information about a player’s performance over a season, which can significantly help in making more accurate predictions.

◇ Availability of Matches: Tennis tournaments take place throughout the year, giving bettors a constant stream of matches to bet on. From Grand Slams to smaller tournaments, there are numerous betting opportunities across both the men’s and women’s games.

◇Variety of Betting Options: Tennis betting provides a wide range of betting markets. Bettors can wager on match winners, set scores, total games, handicap betting, and many more. This diversity allows bettors to find a market that suits their betting style and knowledge.

Cons:

◆Unpredictability of Matches: Despite the availability of tennis news and stats, tennis matches can be highly unpredictable. An underdog can upset a favorite, a player can retire due to injury, or weather conditions can affect the game’s outcome. This unpredictability can make betting on tennis challenging.

◆In-Depth Knowledge Required: To make successful bets consistently, bettors need a deep understanding of the game, players, and different court surfaces. Without this knowledge, it may be difficult to make informed betting decisions.

◆Emotional Investment: Tennis betting can be emotionally draining. As with any sport, there are thrilling victories and heartbreaking losses. If you are a passionate fan, it can be challenging to separate your personal feelings from your betting decisions, leading to irrational bets.

Summary

Tennis betting offers an exciting and diverse range of betting options for sports betting enthusiasts. From simple match betting to the more complex handicap and over/under bets, there’s something for everyone. By understanding the different types of bets, using betting tips such as studying form and head-to-head records, and being aware of the pros and cons of tennis betting, you can enhance your betting experience

Tennis Betting FAQs

What is the best strategy for betting on tennis?

There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for tennis betting. It largely depends on the bettor’s knowledge, experience, and preference. However, successful tennis betting often involves understanding player strengths and weaknesses, factoring in court surfaces, following the latest tennis news, and keeping track of players’ form and head-to-head records.

Can I make live bets during a tennis match?

Yes, many sportsbooks offer live or in-play betting during tennis matches. This type of betting allows you to place wagers as the action unfolds, often providing a wide array of betting markets, from predicting the next point winner to the overall match outcome.

What do tennis betting odds represent?

Tennis betting odds represent the probability of an event occurring and the potential payout you could receive from a winning bet. Lower odds suggest a higher likelihood of an event happening but with a smaller payout. Higher odds indicate a less likely outcome but with a larger potential payout.

What does 'handicap betting' mean in tennis?

In tennis, handicap betting involves giving one player a virtual advantage or disadvantage. This evens the playing field in matches where there is a clear favorite. For example, a favorite might start with a -2.5 game handicap, meaning they need to win the match by three games or more for bets on them to pay out. Conversely, an underdog might have a +2.5 game handicap, meaning bets on them pay out as long as they don’t lose the match by more than two games.