How to bet on tennis

24 Sep | BY Betway Insider | MIN READ TIME |

Source: Alamy Stock Photo

Explore our in-depth guide to find out how to bet on tennis, what the different types of tennis betting markets are and the common mistakes to avoid when betting on the sport.

Are you thinking of betting on the next big tennis tournament, or counting on your favourite player going all the way? Find out all you need to know about betting on tennis, here, with our complete guide.

From how tennis betting works to the different types of tennis bets you can make, we’ve covered all the basics, along with some other key pieces of tennis betting advice you should know and a look at the most popular tennis events to bet on.

How tennis betting works

As with all sports, it’s helpful to understand how to bet on tennis before engaging with the various markets available at Betway. There are a vast number of ways to place a wager, from live betting to outright bets that may not be settled for several months.

And unlike team sports, tennis produces some betting markets that even regular punters might not be familiar with. However, while the jargon might be different, the concepts are largely similar, whether that’s a set handicap, the over/under on the total number of games, or a bet on the tournament winner.

How to read tennis betting odds

Odds are typically presented in the fractional format, where the number on the right is the stake, with the number on the left representing the potential winnings.

A wager is classified as odds-on if the number on the left is lower than the number on the right. For instance, Jannik Sinner might be 4/5 to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. A £5 bet on Sinner would only have £4 in winnings, with a total payout of £9.

Fractional odds are among the easiest format to calculate potential winnings from a given stake, and longer odds usually have a ‘1’ on the right side of the fraction. For example, a player could be 25/1 to win the ATP Finals. A £1 bet would have £25 in potential winnings (plus the original stake).

What is the best way to win a tennis bet?

Although no bet is ever guaranteed to be a winner, research is still paramount when placing a wager on tennis. This includes looking into the form of the respective players and their head–to-head records. We would also recommend seeing how they have fared on the given surface over the last year or so, as certain players are much more effective on one surface over another.

The ATP and WTA websites are packed with statistics on every player, including their recent activity, serve percentages, and career win rates on different surfaces, making them great places to start when doing your research.

Common mistakes when betting on tennis

It’s essential to familiarise yourself with common mistakes made by other punters when wagering on tennis – and even more vital you avoid these failings yourself! When learning how to bet on tennis, give yourself the best chance of winning by aiming to overcome the following:

Overvaluing the big names
Ignoring the challenges of different surfaces
Chasing big winnings with accumulators
Forgetting to look at head-to-head records

Common tennis betting markets

Before you get started betting on the tennis, it’s also a good idea to research the different markets out there. That way, you’ll know what to expect when placing differing wagers:

Match winner: As it sounds, this is a wager on which player will win the match.
Set winner: This is usually a bet on who will win the first or next set.
To win a set: A bet on whether a player will win a set during the match.
Game handicap: Like other handicap markets, this ‘gives’ games to the underdog. The winner is calculated by adding up the number of games won by each player throughout the match.
Total games (overall): Total games bets are usually an over/under on the number of games played during the match.
Total sets (overall): Most professional matches are played as best-of-three/five sets. Here, bettors choose whether there will be over/under a certain number of sets.
Total games (in a set): Will there be over or under a certain number of games in a set?
Correct score (in a set): A (usually) longer odds option as it requires you to exactly predict the score of a given set.
Will there be a tie-breaker?: A simple yes/no bet on whether there will be a tie-break in the match.
Not to win a set: A bet on a player not to win a set during a match.

Tennis events and competitions you can bet on

As you can see, it’s a resounding yes to: ‘can you bet on tennis?’. In fact, tennis is a very popular sport for bettors, not just because of its variety of markets, but it also boasts a consistent stream of events throughout the year.

The four Grand Slams are naturally the headliners, of course, and they attract the most betting interest as a result:

Wimbledon

Hosted at the All England Club, Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, having been first played in 1877. It is the only grass-court Grand Slam, and as a result, it provides a unique challenge for players, with big servers rewarded by the quicker courts.

Grass-court specialists are definitely worth looking out for here, whether looking at men’s Wimbledon odds or women’s outright Wimbledon odds.

US Open

The final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open is one of two hard-court Slams. Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main court at the event, is the largest tennis stadium in the world by a significant margin, and US players always receive raucous support from the home crowds – though the pressure can sometimes prove too much.

The US Open has closed its doors for another year; but be sure to come back for next year’s odds when they’re available.

French Open

The French Open is played at Roland Garros. It’s the only clay-court Slam of the year, and falls second in the calendar after the Australian Open and a few weeks before Wimbledon. Clay-court specialists are focused on Roland Garros as their best chance of a deep run at a Slam.

With the French Open, it’s important to consider a player’s previous clay-court record and how they have fared at Roland Garros, both when analysing the latest men’s French Open odds or women’s French Open odds.

Australian Open

The first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open is played in January in Melbourne. Along with the US Open, it is one of two hard-court Slams, though it was played on grass until 1988. The Australian Open often sets the tone for the rest of the season, but players and fans have to wait several months for the next Grand Slam, so there is plenty of time to regain or lose form.

The men’s Australian Open and women’s Australian Open outright markets are largely dictated by how a player finished the previous season. For example, some players may be forced to miss the Australian Open if they are recovering from an injury sustained towards the end of the previous year.

How to place a tennis bet

Still wondering how to bet on tennis? Look no further. It couldn’t be easier to wager on tennis with Betway.

First up, you need to head to the account registration page. It’s then a simple process of entering the required details to set up your account. Then, you will need to provide some verification of your identity and age, usually through a form of ID.

Once this is complete, you choose your preferred deposit method and add funds to your Betway account before browsing the various tennis betting markets and choosing which bet(s) you want to place.

Where to bet on tennis markets

Betway aces its tennis offering. Our tennis betting markets cover a wide range of events around the world, with highly competitive odds and plenty of promotions throughout the year. If you are well-practised in how to bet on tennis games or if you’re still searching for the best way to bet on tennis, Betway is a diverse bookmaker that can meet your betting needs.

Why not try out the Betway Sports app for your first round of bets? Download it from the Play Store or the App Store to enjoy in-play betting, outright markets, and much more.