Welcome to the essential guide for betting on Tennis! Covering both the men's ATP Tour and the women's WTA Tour, this guide will help you understand the various ways to wager on everything from weekly tournaments to the prestigious Grand Slams: the Australian Open (hard court), French Open (clay court), Wimbledon (grass court), and the US Open (hard court).
Tennis offers fast-paced action and unique betting markets based on matches, sets, games, and player performance. Understanding these options is key to successful tennis betting.
Understanding Tennis Odds
Tennis odds, typically shown in American (+/-) format, reflect the probability of an outcome and your potential winnings.
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Negative Odds (-): Indicate the favorite. The number shows how much you need to bet to win $100 profit (e.g., -200 means bet $200 to win $100).
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Positive Odds (+): Indicate the underdog. The number shows how much profit you win on a $100 bet (e.g., +150 means bet $100 to win $150 profit).
Odds are influenced by player rankings, recent form, head-to-head history, court surface, and fitness.
Common Tennis Bet Types
Match Winner (Moneyline)
The most straightforward tennis bet: simply pick which player will win the match. Since there are no draws in tennis, this is always a 2-way market.
Example (ATP):
Carlos Alcaraz -180
Jannik Sinner +150
Bet $180 on Alcaraz to win $100 profit. Bet $100 on Sinner to win $150 profit.
Example (WTA):
Iga Swiatek -250
Aryna Sabalenka +200
Bet $250 on Swiatek to win $100 profit. Bet $100 on Sabalenka to win $200 profit.
Game Handicap
This applies a handicap (positive or negative) to a player's total games won across the entire match. The player must 'cover' the handicap for the bet to win. This levels the odds in potentially one-sided matches.
Example:
Novak Djokovic -4.5 Games (-110)
Alexander Zverev +4.5 Games (-110)
If Djokovic wins 6-4, 6-4 (Total games: Djokovic 12, Zverev 8), Djokovic wins by 4 games and does NOT cover the -4.5 handicap. Zverev +4.5 would win.
If Djokovic wins 6-3, 6-3 (Total games: Djokovic 12, Zverev 6), Djokovic wins by 6 games and covers the -4.5 handicap.
Set Handicap
Similar to Game Handicap, but applied to sets won. Common handicaps are +/- 1.5 sets in best-of-3 matches and +/- 1.5 or +/- 2.5 sets in best-of-5 matches (men's Grand Slams).
Example (Best-of-3 match):
Player A -1.5 Sets (+120)
Player B +1.5 Sets (-150)
Example (Best-of-5 match):
Player C -2.5 Sets (+200)
Player D +2.5 Sets (-250)
Total Games (Over/Under)
Bet on whether the total number of games played by both players in the match will be Over or Under a line set by the sportsbook. This bet doesn't depend on who wins, only the match length in games.
Example:
Total Games: Over 22.5 (-110) / Under 22.5 (-110)
If the score is 7-6, 6-4 (Total 23 games), the Over wins.
If the score is 6-3, 6-2 (Total 17 games), the Under wins.
Correct Set Score
Predict the exact final score in sets. In best-of-3 matches, the options are 2-0 or 2-1 for either player. In best-of-5, options are 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2 for either player. These bets offer higher odds due to their specificity.
Example (Best-of-3): Bet on Player A to win 2-1 at +300 odds.
Set Betting (e.g., First Set Winner)
Bet on the outcome of a specific set within the match, most commonly the first set. You can bet on Player A or Player B to win the set.
Example: Bet on Coco Gauff to win the 1st Set at -130 odds.
Player Props
Wager on specific player statistics within a match. Common tennis props include:
- Total Aces Over/Under: Bet on the number of aces a player will serve.
- Total Double Faults Over/Under: Bet on the number of double faults.
- First Serve Percentage Over/Under:
- Will There Be a Tiebreak?: Bet Yes/No on whether any set will reach a tiebreak (6-6).
Example:
Elena Rybakina Over 8.5 Aces (-110)
Player X Under 3.5 Double Faults (-120)
Tiebreak in Match: Yes (-150) / No (+120)
Explore detailed player markets on our Tennis Player Props page.
Futures
Long-term bets placed before or during a tournament. Popular tennis futures include:
- Tournament Winner (e.g., Wimbledon Champion, US Open Champion)
- To Reach the Final / Semi-Final / Quarter-Final
- Year-End No. 1 Ranking (ATP or WTA)
Example:
Iga Swiatek to Win French Open (+150)
Carlos Alcaraz to Reach Wimbledon Final (+300)
Player X to Finish Year End No. 1 (+500)
Live Betting (In-Play)
Bet on tennis matches while they are in progress. Odds update rapidly after points, games, and sets. Markets include current game winner, current set winner, next point winner, updated match winner odds, and updated handicaps/totals.
Elevate Your Tennis Betting Knowledge
Understanding the variety of Tennis bet types for both the ATP and WTA tours is essential for strategic wagering. Knowing when to use Match Winner bets versus Game or Set Handicaps, or identifying value in Total Games or Player Props, can significantly enhance your betting approach. Consider factors like court surface (hard, clay, grass), player form, and head-to-head matchups when analyzing bets for events like the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.
Bet Better provides data-driven analysis and expert tennis picks for major tournaments and weekly tour events.
Ready to serve up a bet? Check out today's Tennis Best Bets or explore specific Tennis Player Props. Remember to always bet responsibly.
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