How to Bet on Tennis

Tennis brings fans and bettors alike into a world of exciting tennis matches, various talented tennis players, and the many awaited tournaments from the U.S. and the world over.

This individual sport presents professional and casual bettors with many betting opportunities.

However, not everyone knows the rules of tennis betting and how to place profitable tennis bets.

We also include how betting odds work, the principles and rules of tennis betting, and our most recommended tips and strategies to make you a successful tennis bettor.

Betting on Tennis

Betting on tennis is very different from betting on other sports. For one, the tennis scoring system is distinct to this individual sport. Every tennis match is comprised of two to three sets.

The player who wins at least six games wins the set. In the beginning, the players’ score is love or zero. The next point is 15, then 30, then 40.

The player who gets 40, which is the game point, wins the match.

When both participants tie at 40, this occurrence is called a “deuce.” The game continues until a player wins by two points.

Tennis players who are 40-30 or 40-love and score another point win the game.

Another factor that makes tennis betting unique is that tennis tournaments take a bracket format featuring 128 players competing in a two-week major. Lower-tier tennis events could also feature as few as 28 participants.

Betting on this sport also has rules unique to every sportsbook.

We offer many betting opportunities, from futures to moneyline bets. Get familiar with our house rules before placing your stakes. Click here.

The Odds

Before placing your tennis bet, you should first understand how tennis odds work. They are essential to tennis betting and staking on other sports and leagues like the NBA and NFL.

Odds indicate how much a bettor should stake and can win from a bet. They also measure the likelihood of a particular outcome happening, also known as the implied probability.

In tennis, as with most sports, odds are expressed as moneyline, fractional, and decimal odds.

Moneyline Odds

These odds are popular in North America. The team predicted to win (favorite) is assigned negative odds. Meanwhile, the team that bookies feel will lose (underdog) gets positive odds.

Moneyline odds are also known as American odds. Let’s take a look at a Wimbledon matchup between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

For instance, these tennis superstars were given the following odds:

Roger Federer	+147
Novak Djokovic	-200

This means that bookies think Djokovic is the favorite (negative odds) while Federer is the underdog at +147.

If sports bettors wish to back the favorite, they should be willing to bet $200 to win $100. Meanwhile, those who want to support Federer can win $147 by betting $100.

Sports bettors can bet below or over $100.

To calculate your profit if your bet on the underdog wins, use this formula:

Stake * (Moneyline Odds/100)

Using the odds above, a $30 winning bet on Federer earns you $44.1. Add this profit to your $30 initial stake, and you get a total payout of $74.1.

The equation below illustrates how we’ve arrived at $44.1.

30 * (147/100) = 44.1

If you bet on the favorite (Djokovic) and you bet $50, your profit is $25.

To calculate the profit for underdog moneyline bets, use this formula:

(100/Moneyline Odds) * Stake or

(100/200) * 50 = 25

This gets you a total payout of $75 (initial stake of $50 + profit of $25).

Fractional Odds

Often used in the U.K. and Ireland, this odds type is in fraction form. The numerator represents the expected profit, while the denominator is your initial bet.

To calculate your potential returns, use this formula:

(Stake * Numerator) / Denominator

For instance, let’s take a matchup between Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams at the French Open Grand Slam held at Roland Garros.

Naomi Osaka	2/3
Serena Williams	6/5

These fractional odds reveal that bookies believe that Williams is the underdog. If you back her with $50 and she wins, you get $60. So your total payout will be $110.

Decimal Odds

Decimal odds, which are more popular in Europe, are pretty straightforward. To calculate the bet returns, you should multiply the odds by your stake.

For instance, in a matchup in the Australian Open between Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray, the bookmakers assigned these odds:

Stan Wawrinka	1.363
Andy Murray	3.24

If you back the underdog Murray with $40 and he wins, you get a total payout of $129.6.

Decimal odds can also be converted so that you can get the implied probability. You can use the formula below to calculate the player’s chances of winning a match as bookmakers predict them:

(1 / Decimal Odds) * 100

Using the decimal odds assigned to Stan Wawrinka, the implied probability of him winning is (1/1.363) * 100 or 73.37%. Meanwhile, Murray’s is 30.86%.

Tennis odds are different from tennis lines. Tennis odds are used for moneyline or outright betting and prop bets. Tennis lines are used for handicap betting.

There are many betting types you can use when you want to stake on tennis. The three most common betting markets include moneyline bets, set bets, and totals bets.

The Betting Types

Moneyline

Moneyline betting involves picking who you think will be the outright match-winner.

Also known as “to win” bet, an “outright winner bet” is recommended for beginners who want to try their hand at tennis betting. What’s essential is that, before a major tournament occurs, you already know the betting odds of all players competing.

An outright winner refers to the best tennis player of an entire tournament.

Similar to outright winner betting is match betting, except that in match betting, you pick the winner of an individual match instead of a tournament winner.

Totals (Over/Under)

This means wagering on the total number of games played in a match. If a game from the WTA Tour ends with a final score of 5-4, 6-4, the total will be 19 (5 + 4 + 6 + 4).

Let’s say you bet over 17.5 on a U.S. Open match between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem. This means that the combined number of games should be 18 or over.

If Thiem wins (4-5, 7-6), the total number of games is 22, meaning you won your bet. This is because the match ended with a total over the combined number of the players’ games as set by the sportsbook.

Game Spread

Similar to football’s point spread, spread betting in tennis involves the use of a game spread that allows sportsbooks to handicap players. The underdog is given a spread that will enable them to participate in a fairer playing field.

If a player gets a spread of -5.5 and you bet on them, it’s not enough that they win outright. It means they have to win by six games or more to cover the game spread.

For a bet on the player’s opponent to win, the opponent just needs to win outright or not lose by more than 5 games to cover the spread.

Set spreads are similar to game spreads. However, set spreads rely on the number of sets won. Most games are best of three sets that use a set line of +-1.5 spread line.

If you stake on the favorite in a best of three sets matchup, you predict that they’ll win in straight sets. To put it simply, this favorite should not lose a single set.

Meanwhile, placing a bet on the underdog (+1.5) means that you predict they’ll win at least one set in the game.

In some grand slam events, 2.5 set spreads are also given.

If you back a favorite who was given a -2.5 set spread line, they need to get a 3-0 or win the game in straight sets.

Live Betting

The tennis live betting market is growing more popular, especially now that sportsbooks’ apps are designed to track an ongoing game. Live betting lets you place your bets on real-time tennis events.

During in-play betting, the odds change, so you can also adjust your bet accordingly. This advantage that allows you to update your bet enhances the betting value and increases your chances of profiting from a stake.

Prop Betting

Tennis betting sites that offer proposition betting or prop betting allow you to bet on other aspects of the match that are irrelevant to the game’s final outcome.

This betting type is interesting because it doesn’t require a lot of research. After all, some props are random.

Some tennis prop bets also involve whether or not a game will reach deuce. Most tennis betting websites allow you to bet on player props and match props.

Player props can be as specific as who will be the player to win the first set at Melbourne Park. Meanwhile, match props involve more match-centric proposition bets.

Futures Betting

As the name suggests, this betting type offers staking opportunities for future events, usually involving major tournaments.

You can bet as early as months or weeks before the sporting event. Bettors usually find more favorable tennis odds in futures. However, futures cannot account for events that may happen as the tennis season progresses, like injuries.

Another downside with this betting option is that your money is tied up for a long time. So you should really plan your betting and manage your bankroll properly so that you are not financially affected by futures bets you place.

Futures are more popular with sanctioned ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) or WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tournaments.

Future bets aren’t limited to matches. Futures can also involve players, like who will win a specific tour’s Player of the Year recognition.

Tennis Events to Bet on

Grand Slam

To win a Grand Slam means to win all four major tennis championships, including the championships of the U.S., Britain (Wimbledon), Australia, and France. The winner should be able to accomplish this feat in one calendar season.

To date, only five different tennis players have been able to achieve this task in the singles category, namely:

Singles

1938: Don Budge (United States)

1953: Maureen Connolly (United States)

1962: Rod Laver (Australia)

1969: Rod Laver (Australia)

1970: Margaret Smith Court (Australia)

1988: Steffi Graf (Germany)

Other notable players that have achieved a Grand Slam in the doubles category include:

Doubles

1951: Frank Sedgman and Ken McGregor (Australia)

1984: Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver (United States)

1960: Maria Bueno and two partners (Brazil)

1998: Martina Hingis and two partners (Switzerland)

Mixed Doubles

1963: Margaret Smith and Ken Fletcher (Australia)

1967: Owen Davidson and two partners (Australia)

Other remarkable grand slam achievements include “Career Grand Slam” and “Three-Quarter Slams.”

The Career Grand Slam title recognizes outstanding tennis players who have won each of the four major championships throughout their career’s duration.

Here’s a list of the notable tennis players who have gotten this recognition:

Men's Singles

Fred Perry - 1935 French Championships (England)

Don Budge - 1938 French Championships (United States)

Rod Laver - 1962 U.S. Championships (Australia)

Roy Emerson - 1964 Wimbledon (Australia)

Andre Agassi - 1999 French Open (United States)

Roger Federer - 2009 French Open (Switzerland)

Rafael Nadal - 2010 U.S. Open (Spain)

Novak Djokovic -2016 French Open (Serbia)

Women's Singles

Maureen Connolly Brinker - 1953 French Championships (United States)

Doris Hart - 1954 U.S. Championships (United States)

Shirley Fry Irvin - 1957 Australian Championships (United States)

Margaret Smith Court - 1963 Wimbledon (Australia)

Billie Jean King - 1972 French Open (United States)

Chris Evert - 1982 Australian Open (United States)

Martina Navratilova - 1983 U.S. Open (United States)

Steffi Graf - 1988 U.S. Open (Germany)

Serena Williams - 2003 Australian Open (United States)

Maria Sharapova - 2012 French Open

Meanwhile, players bestowed the “Three-Quater Slam” achievement have won three out of four major championships in a single calendar year.

Another notable Grand Slam title is the Golden Slam, which is given to competitive players who win all four major titles on top of winning an Olympic gold medal in one calendar year.

A female tennis player made history when she won the first-ever Golden Slam title. Steffi Graffi was able to win all of these major championships in 1988.

Australian Open

Typically the first Grand Slam event of the year, the Australian Open is held in Melbourne for two weeks starting in mid-January. This sporting event includes men’s and women’s singles, doubles teams, mixed doubles, and wheelchair tennis.

From grass courts, the venue switched to hard courts in 1988. In this major championship, players in the singles category use the first to 10 tiebreaker when the match in the final set reaches 6-6.

If this happens in a mixed doubles match, the players play a tiebreaker instead of a final set.

French Open

The French Open or Roland Garros is an event that spans two weeks, usually held toward the end of May in Paris, France. Among the four major championships, the French Open is the only event that uses the advantage set to determine the match-winner.

It is also the only major tennis event played on outdoor clay court surfaces. At first, only French tennis club members could participate in the tournament. Later on, more players could qualify as the event became one of the Big Four Tournaments in 1925.

Wimbledon

First held in Wimbledon, London, in 1877, Wimbledon is the oldest tennis championship in the world. It is held in late June or early July. It is the only major tournament that takes place on a grass court since 1988.

This exclusive event features an all-white attire dress code policy which is strictly implemented.

Similar to the other major tournaments, Wimbledon has its unique policies. For instance, if competitive players tie at 12 matches, they should play a tiebreaker round. This practice was first implemented in 2019.

U.S. Open

This is the last of the four major tennis tournaments. Usually held on the final Monday of August, the U.S. Open spans for two weeks.

The regular events are mixed with more exciting and inclusive special competitions in divisions like the junior, wheelchair, and senior categories.

This major tournament is the only one of the four to utilize the 12-point tiebreak scoring system every time a set enters a 6-6 tie (even the final set).

The tournament happens on hard courts.

Tennis Betting Online

Tennis betting can be done in brick-and-mortar casinos, Vegas, and sports wagering websites.

The popularity of online sportsbooks has made tennis betting more accessible to the public. But how exactly do you bet on tennis online?

First, you need to find a trustworthy bookmaker that can guarantee that you’ll get your payouts securely and protect your personal details online.

Read more about how this tool works here.

On a federal level, sports betting is legal in the U.S. However, states have the discretion to implement their own policies on sports betting and related activities.

In compliance with Colorado regulation, users under 21 are prohibited from gambling through our website. Responsible gambling has always been at our core. To complement this commitment, we’ve designed tools to limit bets, deposits, and even time spent on our site.

Using all those details, you can then undergo our stringent verification process that ensures only qualified bettors can make an account with us. Read more on that by clicking this link.

After making an account, you’re finally ready to make a deposit. Our tip is to take advantage of the welcome bonuses offered by most sportsbooks.

Placing Winning Tennis Bets

There are several tennis betting tips to help you increase your odds of winning. However, you can’t always win in tennis betting and staking on other sports.

We’ve compiled a list of tennis betting strategies that can help you become a more profitable tennis bettor.

See What the Data Is Saying

Because of the number of players, the many tournaments you can bet on, ranging from the Australian Open to the Davis Cup, and the most exciting tennis betting odds in store for bettors, tennis betting can be overwhelming.

That’s why you should always research the data on players and their performances against each other.

This first strategy is time-consuming, but if you really want to excel as a pro sports bettor, you have to accept that research is a crucial component of becoming a sharp (professional bettor).

Head-to-head records should be used to assess how the players play and how they will fare in their upcoming match.

Keep Yourself Up-to-Date

Whether an event is part of the Grand Slam majors or a smaller circuit tennis tournament, tennis events should be on your radar. The players’ recent form matters.

You should also look into the opponent’s stats. This data can give you opportunities to make more informed bets.

Take note of injuries or news on certain players. These circumstances can also affect the odds assigned to the tennis players.

Keep tabs on player and match news through a page on our website dedicated to tennis.

Be Wary of the Details

You’ve done your research, dug into the competing players’ stats, done your share of getting all the data and analyzing it. However, even the smallest details that you miss can significantly influence your betting opportunity.

The court’s surface, for one, is among those details. Some players thrive more when they play on clay, while others are more accustomed to grass courts.

Take note of trends, too. For instance, big servers like the hard court better. The surface influences their dominant serve, making it hard to return. Players who use serve-and-volley will be unstoppable if they play on grass courts as they will produce shorter points.

Weather conditions should also be taken into account. A rise in temperature can cause an increase in air pressure inside the tennis ball. This can result in stronger bounces.

Sunlight can also influence a player’s vision. Hence, visors, sunglasses, and baseball caps are a tennis player’s go-to, especially in sunny venues.

Some players also compete better indoors, while others prefer the outdoors. No matter their preference, what’s important is that you’re armed with the right knowledge before placing a bet.

Take Advantage of Props and Futures

These two betting types can help increase your chances of getting higher payouts. Some prop bets don’t require a lot of research, so take advantage of this fact.

Futures bets can also present you with many betting opportunities. What’s essential is that you are updated on the upcoming games and the key players you can potentially back.

Place Value Bets Only

Don’t just bet on heavy favorites or an underdog you’ve been supporting since you started taking an interest in the sport. You should be able to determine if the bet is a valuable one.

Usually, value bets have assigned odds that you think are not very accurate but could potentially present you with higher payouts for lower stakes.

Take Note of the Left-Handers

A match between a leftie and a right-hander may prove to be tricky. Often, left-handers can make the game more challenging, even if the player you’re backing is a leftie themselves.

Watch previous games and see if your selection fares well against southpaws.

Don’t Disregard Motivations

Even if one player is predicted to win, the underdog may surprise the crowd with a win given the right motivation.

One thing that data and other websites can’t predict is the player’s emotions.

Familiarize Yourself With the Participants’ Playing Styles

Take advantage of technology by checking out the different tennis footage available online. By simply watching your selection’s service game and return game, you can evaluate what kind of player they are.

Then, assess how their playing style would fare given the surface where the match will be held.

Be Careful With Favorites

Even favorites from the Grand Slam events can underperform despite their tournament seeding. All rankings take into account how a player has fared the past twelve months.

However, these rankings may not take into consideration that some players aren’t in their best form, resulting in an upset.

Again, it all boils down to research. If you’re confident of your analysis, trust your guts more than the seeding.

Manage Your Bankroll

While placing bets on tennis can be exciting given the number of players and tournaments you can bet on, it’s easy to let your emotions take over when betting. Some bettors may let their emotions get the best of them.

Losing some bets is natural, but the danger lies when some bettors try to chase their bets by trying to overturn their series of losses.

Proper bank management is what matters most. A range of 1% to 5% of your bankroll is the recommended amount you should bet per tennis match or selection.

Look for a Trusted Sports Book

Having learned all of these tips, you should then find a sportsbook you think will help you make winning bets.