Tennis betting markets are offered by a tennis betting platform on a specific tennis tournament or match. Some are match-specific, while others are accumulative bets based on the results of a tournament or season.
Although the range of options is limited to team sports (i.e., players’ and teams’ options) since tennis has only two competitors, there are hundreds of tennis betting markets to choose from.
To give you an overview, here are the top tennis betting markets to try.
Table of Content
Match Winner
As the name implies, bettors predict who will win the tennis match in this market. It’s one of the common and easiest tennis markets to try, so it’s highly recommended to amateurs who want to experience quick bets on tennis without losing a lot of money.
In addition to the match’s winner, there are other options to try, such as dark horses or heavy favorites, which all have decent odds. This is because, besides having only two players, tennis doesn’t have draws, so it’s a lot easier to predict who will win the head-to-head clash.
Moreover, it’s also easier to learn how to bet on tennis since no ties exist. For example, you won’t receive favorable odds if you bet on a favorite tennis player. This also means that you can determine the actual value of a team despite the other team being overwhelmingly favored.
The odds of each bet are often determined by several factors.
These may include (but aren’t limited to) a player’s form and previous matches with other players, previous matchups with their current opponent (if there are any), court type, and even weather (a warm tennis ball bounces higher than its counterpart due to the changes in a ball’s internal pressure).
In terms of payouts, note that every betting platform has different rules if the match isn’t completed for reasons like one of the players having to retire injured. Some payout to the winner of the next round as long as he/she hits “one ball” in the match or if “one set” has been completed.
Unfortunately, other platforms tend to void Match Winner bets. Some void bets if the set played is less than one, while others void “all” bets if the match isn’t completed.
If you want to maximize your chances, avoid these platforms and look for better ones that are more bettor-friendly.
Set Betting
Tennis tournaments are divided into matches, which are also divided into sets. While most matches are typically best-of-three sets, others have best-of-five-set matches, particularly in men’s tournaments like the Grand Slams.
Bettors can predict the result of each set within a tennis match, which is called set betting. It’s another tennis betting market with the most appealing odds and greater prices.
Like any market, it comes with different types, such as the following:
- Sets Handicap: Typically in men’s Grand Slam matches
- Set Winner: Bet on the winner of individual sets
- Correct Score
- Correct Number of Sets
- Correct Score Of Each Set
- Player to Break Serve
- Set Lead After X Games
- Novelty Set Betting (e.g., bet on the player with the most unforced errors, most outright winners, or most aces in the set)
The only downside of set betting is that bettors have to pick the winning player and the set score “precisely,” making it difficult not only for beginners but also for other experienced tennis bettors.
On a positive note, this could mean having more lucrative odds. It’s best chosen for those who want to earn more from matches they already like and know.
Handicapping
Like in any sports betting, in a match handicap, bettors wager on the tennis spread. This happens when an underdog plays against a favorite. This typically leads to low odds, which can be unattractive to most bettors who don’t think placing bets for a small potential reward is valuable.
As a result, betting platforms offer handicap markets to counter the difference in a player’s ability and level out a match. They set several matches where they thought the favorite would win.
Bettors then bet on whether or not he/she will cover that amount to win, which gives them even odds for an uneven match.
In this market, bettors predict how a player performs, not the actual winner. That’s why it’s valuable when betting on a tennis match with a clear favorite.
It’s often achieved in two ways: betting on the outsider with a positive handicap or the favorite with a negative handicap. The former receives a few games advantage like a plus handicap, while the latter receives a few games disadvantage like a minus handicap to counter the difference in quality.
Final Thoughts on Tennis Betting Markets
To summarize, the match winner betting market is highly recommended for beginners, while set betting and handicapping are good for those who want more challenge. Note that these betting types are just among the many top betting markets in tennis.
Continue to search for other betting markets for more betting and fun opportunities.