Tennis falls into the category of prestige sports. It is one of the most popular individual sports in the world. The games attract a lot of fans, and consequently the number of betting enthusiasts is constantly increasing. Undoubtedly, it is a very attractive sport. There are many unpredictable events during the match. The dynamics of tennis matches makes the match interesting for the fan. Betting on tennis requires the player to have a good knowledge of the markets, the players, but also the surface on which the match takes place.
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Types of bets on tennis
As in other disciplines, tennis is divided into short-term and long-term bets:
- Short-term (i.e. live betting on a given match, or pre-match betting on a given match that will take place in the near future);
- Long-term (i.e., betting on the winner of a tournament to be held in the future, the place of players in the ATP/WTA rankings or other “future” achievements);
Nowadays, sports are not only a means of entertainment but also an opportunity to make money. Calendars of sports events are very tight and players often have little time for recovery and rest. There are so many tennis tournaments that in the season they take place almost all the time from January to December. Consequently, a player can bet on tennis matches practically every day.
The most popular bets on tennis
- Victory Bet – A classic 1 or 2 bet, each tennis match must end in a win for one of the tennis players.
- The exact result – that is, a bet in what size “set” a particular player will win. Depending on the rank of the tournament, the sets needed to win may be two or three.
- Number of sets/number of games – in this bet we do not bet on who will have more sets, but how many overall sets there will be in a given match.
- Set and game handicap – which means whether the match favorite will manage to win e.g. 2:0 in sets or 3:0 etc. Regarding game handicap, you bet on the winner’s game advantage in the match. For example, if you bet on a -4.5 game handicap, your chosen player needs to win by at least 5 games for your bet to win.
- Over/under – you can bet on whether there will be more or less sets/gems in the match as stated in the bet by the bookmaker.
Sometimes in major tournaments, such as a Grand Slam, there are more detailed bets, such as on the number of aces, double service errors, etc.
Tennis tournaments that are played throughout the year
- Grand Slam – these are the 4 most important annual tournaments for both men and women. They include: Australian Open, French Open (Roland Garros), Wimbledon, and US Open. These tournaments are the biggest, offering the largest prize money, highest ATP/WTA ranking points, and attract the largest fan audience and betting volume.
- ATP/WTA 1000 – this is a series of major tournaments featuring the world’s top tennis players. They are played in Europe, North America, and Asia. Women play 10 such tournaments, while men play 9.
- ATP/WTA Finals – this is a tournament featuring the top eight male players, top eight female players, and the 8 best men’s and women’s doubles pairs of the season.
- ATP/WTA 500 – several tournaments less prestigious than ATP 1000. As the name suggests, the winner receives 500 ATP ranking points. Currently, there are 13 such tournaments planned in the ATP calendar, while women play 17.
- ATP/WTA 250 – another category of tournaments with relatively less significance and prestige.
- ATP/WTA Challenger Tour – 160 tournaments each year.
- ITF Men’s/Women’s World Tennis Tour – this is the lowest level of professional tournaments.
Live Tennis Betting
Live tennis betting has gained popularity recently. This is not surprising, as live betting engages the player more than pre-match offerings.
Players can predict both the outcome and exact results. Moreover, they can indicate the number of sets or games. They can react in real-time to every event.
The actual process of live tennis betting is identical to pre-match betting, except for the odds. In live betting, odds are updated continuously. During the first set, you can bet on the outcome of the next one. Odds for things like the number of games and sets can change dynamically after just one or two winning exchanges. A service break can completely reverse odds and predictions. It’s necessary to analyze each situation very carefully and act as quickly as possible.
It’s also important to note that the odds are higher, and consequently, the winnings are larger if predicted correctly. In live tennis betting, streaming plays a crucial role. Having a view of the match is essential for proper betting. When it comes to tennis, bookmakers offer a wide range of streaming options, which is an additional advantage in betting on this sport.
What to Consider When Betting on Tennis
To increase your effectiveness in tennis betting, several principles should be followed. What should you pay special attention to when making predictions? Here are some tips:
- Tournament rank – top tennis players specifically prepare for the most important tournaments.
- Court surface – each player has their preferred surfaces (hard, grass, or clay). The location and court type have significant importance in this case.
- Head-to-head record – every player has their preferences and history of matches against opponents. They play better against some opponents and worse against others. Playing style can determine tactics and the final result.
- Physical and mental condition – in major tournaments, tennis matches can last over three hours. Even the best players might not withstand this. It’s an enormous physical and mental effort for the player. Even after a good start, a worse moment might follow. Looking at a player’s match history can help predict possible outcomes.
- Injury history – injuries are an integral part of any sport. It’s important to check players’ health and potential injuries. Information about well-being and ailments during a long tournament can also be very helpful.
- Statistical analysis – recently becoming more popular and accessible. Every number and comparison has huge significance in the entire match. Statistics might reveal small details that are very important regarding the course of the game.
Where to Bet on Tennis?
Tennis is such a popular sport that you can bet on it with almost any bookmaker. You can also find live tennis betting almost everywhere. Without going into details, I can recommend 4 betting companies where I bet quite frequently. My recommendations are listed in the table below.
Summary
Tennis is one of the most popular sports worldwide. It’s a two-outcome event, meaning the final result can never be a draw. This already gives you a 50% chance of correctly predicting the winner.
Given that it’s an individual sport, carefully tracking a player’s form can yield fruitful results. During a match, there are fewer instances of unexpected turns of events compared to other sports. You won’t encounter red cards, penalty kicks, and referee errors have been practically eliminated.
The season essentially runs year-round, providing numerous betting opportunities. Betting on tennis is not a simple matter. There are many factors that require special attention. A bettor should base their decisions on specific principles and definitely should be guided by reason. How to bet on tennis? Above all, use your head!
