in Tennis Articles

tennis wagering doesn't exist at all. The majority of Americans only tune in to Grand Slam events featuring the world's top players, but there is undoubtedly money to be made on wagering on the sport, which isn't nearly as unpredictable as some of the other American sports such as football or basketball, where any team can be beat at any given time.

Wagering on tennis may be a lot easier than betting on some other sports, but as always there are a few things to consider before you lay down your hard-earned cash.

The first thing that you need to do if you're planning on betting on tennis is to get to know the players and the sport. Meaning, I don't think it would be a particularly good idea to throw down a grand on Jelena Jankovic because you think she's hotter than Justin Henin. That would be total nonsense.

Tennis is one of only sports that actually ranks its players, which comes in very handy when picking a competitor, but by no means is it a fail-all. While betting on the higher ranked player is a wise wager, especially in the earlier rounds of a tournament, there are always a lot of variables to look at, just like in any tournament; there are always a few upsets.

The list of variables is similar to other sports, but remember, with tennis, to check each player's recent matches - and mindset if possible. This one-on-one sport doesn't offer the convenience of a teammate riding to the rescue to save his floundering teammate.

Here are some things to look for when wagering on tennis:

1) Ranking: The first thing you want to do is look at the ranking of each player. If a top-ten player is facing someone you've never heard of before, it's a good idea to place a straight bet on the ranked player.

2) Surface: In addition to the skill level of the player, this is the second most important aspect when betting on tennis. The three most commonly used surfaces in professional tennis are natural grass, clay, and hard courts. The ball reacts differently on all three surfaces, as do the players. If a certain player has a record for struggling on any particular surface, then that is definitely something to keep in mind. Case in point, the world's indisputable number one player, Roger Federer struggles mightily on the red clay at Roland Garros in each year's French Open.

3) Injuries: Injuries are obviously extremely important to take into consideration when wagering on tennis. If either player is returning from an injury, it's a safe bet that they aren't going to be performing at their highest level right away. Any prolonged absence must be taken into account with a player returning from a significant injury.

4) Performance: Obviously, betting on a guy with low confidence or one that is in the midst of a streak of struggles isn't a good idea. Check each player's most recent matches for any red flag that might urge caution.

The best time for a beginning bettor to wager on tennis is during the four Grand Slams - The Australian Open, Wimbledon, The U.S. Open and The French Open, because all of the top players will be facing lesser opponents in the opening rounds, making victory almost certain. Also, there is a greater incentive for the very best players to win these four tournaments because of the stature, prominence and respect that comes with winning a major - not to mention the huge prize money that is awarded to each winner.

The most common bets in tennis are individual games and the overall outcome of the match. But once you start doing well on the straight bets you can start looking into proposition wagers on things such as aces, percentages, faults and fastest serves. Of course, you'll have to know a lot about each of the players to do this, but it could be well worth it in the long run.

Eric Williams is a sports columnist for the Philadelphia Sunday Sun, and Sr. NBA analyst for basketball.com as well as a nationally syndicated freelance writer for both print and online publications. To contact Eric, e-mail eklass66@yahoo.com.

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