Tennis betting offers an exciting way to engage with the popular sport. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or a beginner, understanding tennis betting odds, player stats, and key factors can enhance your experience.
Some of the biggest tournaments to bet on tennis include the US Open, Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon.
Tennis betting odds are available for every tournament on the ATP and WTA schedule.
How to Bet on Tennis
To bet on tennis, you can place wagers on various markets such as match winners, total games, set scores, and even prop bets like player performance. The most common bet is a moneyline wager, where you choose who will win the match.
Betting options may also include over/under games or sets, point spreads, or player props, which are usually only available for the grand slam tournaments.
When you bet on tennis, it’s very important to read the tennis odds to make a profit.
How to Read Tennis Odds
Betting odds for tennis matches are typically expressed in one of three formats: American, decimal, or fractional. American odds, for instance, show the favourite with a negative number (e.g., -150) and the underdog with a positive number (e.g., +200).
This format allows bettors to quickly see which player is favoured and the potential payout. For example, a bet on a -150 favourite requires a $150 bet to win $100, while a $100 bet on a +200 underdog returns $200.
Tennis odds today change often since markets open, so bettors should expect to see changing odds close to the start time.
Important Players to Bet On
Betting on tennis involves focusing on the top-ranked players as well as dark horses who perform well on specific surfaces. Key players like Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Iga Swiatek dominate the sport, but smart bettors also follow up-and-coming players who can offer more profitable returns.
These players have excellent head-to-head records, so they win much more often than any others do. However, they are usually at short odds to win most matches until they reach the final.
The real tennis betting value often lies in player props and tournament winner markets, where the best and biggest odds are available.
Player props could include how many aces a player serves, how many break points they face, or their performance in a specific set.
Tournament winner odds feature all the best players in the tournament, where the world’s best players are at shorter odds than the big outsiders for the tournament.
Tennis betting odds can vary from around +100 to win a tournament to +10,000, so there’s something for everyone.
How Often Do Tennis Favorites Win?
Tennis betting tends to favor the top seeds, especially in the early rounds of major tournaments. On average, favorites win around 70-80% of the time in tennis matches, but this can vary depending on the tournament and playing surface.
In men’s tennis, favorites like Sinner and Alcaraz have high win rates on various surfaces. However, in women’s tennis, the competition is often more open, making the odds of an upset slightly higher, which is crucial for bettors looking for value in underdog betting.
Some players are suited to hard courts, such as Aryna Sabanlenka, who is a proven hard court winner, so her odds of winning the US Open and Australian Open are shorter than to win the French Open and Wimbledon.
Profitable Tennis Betting Strategies
To consistently win money in tennis betting, consider factors like player injuries, surface preferences, and recent form. Some players excel on grass (like at Wimbledon), while others dominate on clay (like at Roland Garros). Understanding these dynamics allows bettors to make more profitable decisions.
Head-to-head statistics are also crucial, as certain players have better records against specific opponents. Some players often go under the radar as they might be out of form, but they play particularly well at a certain tournament.
For instance: Iga Swiatek rarely loses on clay courts, but her record on hard courts isn’t nearly as good. Bettors can find excellent tennis odds for Swiatek to lose to an underdog.
How to Win Money with Tennis Betting
Winning money in tennis betting requires careful analysis of form, fitness, court surface and matchup statistics. The most successful bettors don’t just rely on ranking; they dive deep into individual matchups and form.
Finding the right time to bet on players is a key to making money with tennis betting. Some players hit top gear in the early months, and some don’t get warm until the time the US Open rolls around in September.
Betting on Player Props
Player props in tennis allow bettors to focus on individual player achievements rather than match outcomes. Popular prop bets include:
- Total aces
- Double faults
- Number of breaks of serve
- Set-specific performance
These props can be highly profitable, especially when betting on players with strong serves or defensive skills. Our favorite is total aces, especially when the big-serving male players rack up big numbers.
Bettors can also bet on the set score, and the tennis odds today are often generous for those player props.
Tennis Betting Markets
Tennis betting offers a range of markets beyond just the winner of the match. You can bet on the total number of games played, whether there will be a tie-break in a match, and even individual set winners. Here are some popular markets:
- Moneyline: Betting on the match winner.
- Over/Under Games: Predicting if the total games played will be over or under a set number.
- Set Betting: Betting on the exact score in sets, e.g., 2-0 or 3-1.
- Handicap Betting: Offering points advantages to level the playing field between mismatched opponents.
Betting on Major Tennis Events
Grand Slam tournaments like the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open are the pinnacle of tennis betting. These events attract massive betting markets due to the high stakes and media attention. Bettors have access to a wide range of odds, player props, and match markets during these events.
Betting on these tournaments is an excellent opportunity to profit, as top players bring their A-game, but upsets are not uncommon. Watch for early-round surprises, especially from unseeded players or qualifiers who are often underestimated by oddsmakers.
