Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world. And with the busy annual tennis calendar, there always are tennis tournaments and matches to bet on. Now is the time to take advantage of that and learn how to bet on tennis.
Today we’ll be covering a few important topics related to this — popular tournaments like ATP and WTA Tours, betting options, expert tips, and a lot more. Plus, we’ll discuss how you can place a bet in this high-paced game on the sports betting platform Parimatch. Sign up today and explore all the exciting tennis betting opportunities for live and scheduled events!
Table of Contents
How Tennis Betting Works: Basic Rules
Sometimes tennis games end early, and it’s crucial to outline different qualifications for if your wager is valid or not. You need to understand the specific rules and the market policy that only apply to this sport.
If players have played at least one set:
- Handicap bet will be refunded;
- Bets that have been completed are considered valid;
- Match winner bets are valid and depend on the referee’s decision.
If players haven’t completed any sets, match-winner bets will be refunded; other bets depend on what has already been completed. If the victory is shared by two or more players, wagers on these players winning the tournament will be settled at the odds 1.
Also, tennis has different court layouts, which directly influence the players’ performance. Some surfaces bring the player a possibility to dominate, and some of them – make the fight harder to cope with. There are three different court types – clay, grass, or hard. All of them are presented in the main venues, and we will analyze where and how.
These are the main specifics for tennis bets that we wanted to focus on. But there is a lot more to learn, so keep reading!
What Are Popular Tennis Events to Bet On?
Tennis has four Grand Slam events that are recommended to bet on: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. The term Grand Slam refers to winning all four championships within a single calendar year. These are the major tournaments that are the best contender for tennis outright bets.
But there are also smaller events in tennis season that aren’t any less favorable for online betting, and we’ll guide you through some of them.
Australian Open
- Dates: 17–30 January 2022
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Court surface: Hard
- Champions: Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka
- Prize money: A$75,000,000
Australian Open, established in 1905, is the first of the Grand Slams tennis Tournaments held each year. The winner of most Men’s Singles titles is Novak Djokovic (8), and the highest number of Women’s tennis Singles titles is held by Serena Williams (7).
The format is straightforward – a couple of days for qualification and several rounds of singles’ games. The qualification stage is useful for betting on tennis – it’s when bookmakers make major changes to the tennis odds and come up with predictions.
French Open
- Dates: May 22 – June 5, 2022
- Location: Paris, France
- Court surface: Clay (outdoors)
- Champions: Novak Djokovic, Barbora Krejčíková
French Open is also known as Roland-Garros and takes place over a two-week period. In 1891, the Championnat de France was the first event of such scale for French clubs. Now, this tennis tournament is open internationally. It consists of seven rounds and is judged based on the best-of-five-set men’s singles matches.
It’s one of the most physically demanding competitions in tennis. The clay-court slows down the ball and produces a high bounce. As a result, it takes away some of the advantages of big servers.
Wimbledon
- Dates: June 27 –July 10, 2022
- Location: London, United Kingdom
- Court surface: Grass (outdoors)
- Champions: Novak Djokovic, Ashleigh Barty
The first Wimbledon championship was held in 1877 and has been held annually since then. It’s the only Grand Slam event played on grass, which gives it certain peculiarities. Such a court is characterized by a softer and slightly uneven surface of grass and an unpredictable bounce of the ball. These conditions favor players with good serve and net players.
The structure is a single-elimination tournament. Each match puts tennis professionals against each other, and only one continues further.
US Open
- Next date: June 16 – June 19, 2022
- Location: New York City, New York, United States
- Court surface: Hard (outdoors)
- Defending champions: Dominic Thiem, Naomi Osaka
The US Open tennis tournament started in 1881 and is chronologically the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year. Women’s professional tennis players are played in a best-of-three-sets format, while men’s singles have best-of-five sets. And with this event particularly, a thrilling finale is always guaranteed.
The court has a multi-layer cushioned surface and is classified as medium-fast.
ATP World Top 10
Departing from the Grand Slam tennis betting, we have a merit-based qualification from the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). The World Top 10 is a list updated every Monday based on the stage of the tennis tournament reached by the player, its prestige, and other performance-related criteria.
Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty are the current world No.1 in their respective categories.
ATP Tour Finals
There are no current details on the 2022 season, but we will keep you informed as soon as possible! Therefore, let’s take a quick look at the previous season’s numbers.
- ATP 2021 Dates: January 7 – November 28, 2021
- ATP 2021 Finals dates: 14–21 November
- Location (Finals): Turin, Italy
- Court surface (Finals): Hard (indoors)
- Defending champion (Finals): Daniil Medvedev
- Prize money (finals): US$5,700,000
The ATP Tour is a worldwide top-tier tennis tournament. Interestingly, it’s not a straightforward knock-out tournament. Instead, players are divided into two groups and participate in round-robin matches in their group.
The events date back to 1990. Now, it is comprised of dozens of tournaments, with the tennis calendar including Grand Slam, ATP Finals, ATP Tour Masters 1000, ATP Tour 500, and ATP Tour 250.
ATP Challenger Tour
- Next date: will start on January 3, 2022
- Location: Turkey, France, South Africa, Italy, and others
- Court surface: Hard, clay (indoor/outdoor)
- Defending champion: Novak Djokovic
- Prize money: ranging from $54,160 up to $162,480.
These events are the second-highest tier of tennis competition, behind the ATP Tour. The first challenger tournament was held in 1978, with 18 tennis matches taking place. By 2019, it had grown to over 150 events in dozens of countries.
The ATP Challenger tennis tournament is considered the launching pad for the stars of tomorrow, offering young players a chance to grow in the ranks. One such player was Roger Federer.
ITF Futures Tour
- Next date: January 3 – December 2022
- Location: France, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, and several more
- Court surface: Varies
- Prize money: ranging from $15,000 to $25,000
The ITF World Tennis Tour is one of the lower-tier series of tournaments held by the International Tennis Federation. It is a stepping stone for progressing into the ATP Challenger Tour and, in the end, the full ATP Tour.
The Tour offers approximately 550 men’s tournaments across 70 countries, 500 tournaments across 65 countries for women’s tennis association, and over 650 tournaments in 140 countries for juniors.
How to Read Tennis Betting Odds?
For better or worse, different countries follow different betting formats. Essentially, they all represent the same thing, but it’s still important to understand each type. In our article Betting Odds Explained, we feature a detailed explanation of this topic.
In short, there are three main types of tennis odds used for tennis games:
- Fractional (7/1, 3/2)
- Decimal (2.1, 1.7)
- Moneyline or American (+2.5, -2.5)
Decimal odds are used on the online betting platform Parimatch.
Meaning of Tennis Betting Odds
Tennis betting odds represent the probability of a particular player winning (or a certain event happening). Before the tennis match, bookmakers assess the likelihood of certain outcomes and adjust the tennis odds based on that.
For example, the tennis betting odds on the top-ranked Player A is 1.65. Let’s use the formula:
- Probability = 1/odds×100% = 1/1.65×100 = 0.6060×100 = 60.60%
So, player a has a 60% probability of winning, according to the bookmaker.
If you agree with the given probability or think it’s even higher, you can go for this bet. Using the same example, let’s see the potential profit for a $50 bet:
- Profit = (stake × odds) – stake = (50×1.65) – 50 = 82- 50 = $32
Ultimately, with odds of 1.65, you can earn $32 on a $50 stake.
Tennis Betting Odds in Action
Let’s take a scenario where the clear underdog wins (although it’s rare, it will perfectly illustrate the tennis betting odds).
A well-known, strong tennis Player A easily climbs their way to the finals of the Australian Open. They are a 1.18 favorite to defeat Player B. In terms of probability, this equals an 84.75% chance of a victory.
However, Player A is an all-court player, while Player B is more suited for the super-fast hardcourts of Melbourne. Eventually, Player B wins at odds of 5.60, with a $56 return on a $10 stake.
This example teaches you that tennis betting odds don’t tell you who will win. Instead, they tell you how much money you can win for a certain bet.
What Are The Most Popular Tennis Betting Options?
Similar to other sports presented by bookies, tennis boasts multiple online betting tennis markets — total betting, winner of the match, handicap betting, score betting, and tie break. If you’re confused by all these terms, let us quickly clarify what they mean. Then, be sure to follow our Tennis Betting Tips to maximize your chances of success.
Total Betting
This type of tennis match betting is also known as Over/Under. Wagers are based on the total number of games played or total games won in a match. In other words, whether a match will last over or under a specified number of games.
For example: if two male players are playing a 3-set match, the Total may be set at 37.5 games. If you think there will be 37 games in the match or lower, you need to bet Under. Obviously, the less probable it is, the higher the payout.
Winner of the Match
These are the simplest and most common of the betting on tennis options – who will win? For single’s matches, you can pick either of the players to win. In the screen below, you can see how this bet is presented on Parimatch.
Again, depending on the favorite and the underdog and how they match up, the payout odds will be adjusted. The payout is always lower for the favorite, and the opposite is true for the underdog (e.g., 1.42 vs. 2.95).
Handicap Betting
This creates more or less of a level playing field for both players. For example, in a match between Medvedev and Stefanos, the bookmaker offers Stefanos a headstart +4 game handicaps. The player with the most games after the handicap is applied is the bet winner. In this instance, it doesn’t matter who wins the entire match – it’s about who wins the most games.
There are also Sets Handicaps, for example:
- Who will win the most games in a particular set?
- Who will win the most sets in a match?
Score Betting
Here, you’re trying to predict the final scoreline for a given match. There aren’t many possible outcomes, so the correct score tennis betting options are pretty straightforward.
Below is an example of a five-set match and the possible score combinations (with their respective tennis odds).
Tie Break
The first player to six games wins the set but the need to lead at least by 2 games in the particular match. So, if the score is even (e.g., 5-5), it’s called a tie break. If the score gets to 7-5, the set is played, but if it gets to 6-6, the game will go on.
In tennis betting, you might want to predict whether there will be a tie break in any of the sets. It’s a yes/no question, and your bet wins if you guess correctly.
How to Win Tennis Bets: Tennis Betting Strategy
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So, you might already have a preference on which bet to place. But hold on – first, you need to learn the basic rules for creating a winning strategy. Below the experts provided the best tennis betting tips that you should try to implement in your betting approach in one way or another.
Value Is Always First
To determine tennis value bets, compare your probability score to the odds on offer using this formula:
- Value = ([1 ÷ Percentage of Your Assessed Probability] * 100)
For example:
- Value = ([1 ÷ 60] * 100) = 1.67
Let’s say the decimal odds are 1.8 for this bet, which is a better price. So, this is a pretty favorable bet. To make accurate predictions and assess probabilities, practice the tips given below.
Learn the Player’s Stats
Look up how famous tennis players have performed in recent weeks, months, and even years. The most important pieces of data are:
- Aces
- Breaks (saved/converted)
- Unforced errors
Other vital stats include the first-serve percentage, service games won, and second-serve return points won. This information comes in handy for tennis prop bets — the more details you know about the player, the better.
Study Playing Styles Before the Match
The four playing styles are:
- Aggressive baseliners — who is in control and dictates play (Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova);
- Serve-and-volley — who attacks the net coming, often after their return of serve (Feliciano López, Nicolas Mahut, Martina Navratilova);
- Counterpuncher — those on the defense, relying on the opponent making mistakes (Andy Murray, Caroline Wozniacki, Lleyton Hewitt);
- All-court player — who is comfortable using a lot of different shots (Roger Federer, Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska).
When players with different styles are pitted against each other, their styles give you an idea about how to bet on tennis more successfully.
Pick Against the Crowd
If a player is going through a winning streak, it is often described as having momentum. However, many sports bettors tend to believe the momentum effect is larger than it really is, and the point spread gets skewed in favor of the team with momentum.
Don’t be fooled by what the majority says; instead, rely on your personal research — you may end up going against the crowd.
Don’t Only Bet On Favorites
Take a look at these two stories that happened recently:
- Tsitsipas reached the Australian Open semi-final, beating Nadal in a five-set match.
- Aslan Karatsev (an underdog) lost a three-set match to Novak Djokovic (a favorite).
This shows that the underdogs can shock everyone, but, at the same time, the favorites also find their way. Don’t disregard the underdogs (at least, as a hedging tactic), but still rely on the favorites.
Keep Betting Records
If you’re serious about getting consistent profits from tennis betting, you need to treat it like a business. Keep a spreadsheet of how much money you have on hand, the wagers you’ve made and how they played out, and what is your win/loss ratio. Hard facts and figures will help you reassess your betting strategy.
Study Head-to-Head Matchups
There is relatively little parity existing at the top of the game, but ultimately, tennis matches are all about matchups. The purpose of looking at head-to-head records is to see whether one of the players historically has an advantage.
That said, head-to-head records require some other assessments. For example, if the last meeting between the two was more than two years ago, the value is reduced by at least 10 percent.
Look Up The Weather
The weather is erratic. And considering all four Grand Slams events are held outdoors, the weather factor may help you win or lose the bet. Research which player performs better in the hot sun, in the rain, or in hazy or windy weather conditions and compare it to the forecast for the match.
Learn Playing Conditions
Clay, grass, or hard court layout are better suited to certain players. This is because the unique characteristics of the surface highlight players’ own abilities and allow some of them to dominate their opponents. Therefore, find out the best surfaces for the player you’re about to bet on.
Watch Out for Southpaws
The style of left-handers is the direct opposite of right-handed players. Since a lefty has more experience playing against right-handers, it automatically gives the former an advantage when the two meet.
Consider (In-Play) Live Betting
Live tennis betting is full of advantages. Tennis matches are fairly long, especially with regular breaks between games and sets. That’s why this type of betting is so popular among bettors as they have time to weigh up their options and the available markets before placing their bets.
How Can YOU Bet on Tennis with Parimatch?
With all the basics covered, you’re now ready for tennis betting. And there’s no better place to do it than the Parimatch sports betting platform. Let’s discuss all the steps involved in the process.
But before we go in, we want to highlight the incredible benefit that the service offers – fast and easy deposits. Don’t waste time — make your deposit now and enjoy the best betting terms. Just follow the steps we describe below.
Register at Parimatch
On the main page, find an icon for signing up in the upper right corner. Click it, and you’ll see a pop-up window where you need to enter your phone number and password.
Make Your First Deposit
When you’re done creating a new account, the green ‘Deposit’ button will appear in the right upper corner.
Click the button to see all the available deposit options – Cash On Delivery, Paytm, AstroPay, bank transfer, etc. Under each payment method, you’ll see minimum/maximum amounts, commission, and processing time.
Look for Suitable Live and Upcoming Matches
After the money comes in (most times, instantly), you can start choosing the tennis matches. On the left, you’ll see the available options for live and upcoming events.
Choose based on your betting strategy – some people prefer in-play betting, while others opt for calculated decisions in advance.
Find the Best Tennis Betting Options
Click or tap on the match you’d like to bet on to see all the betting options. For any match, you can choose one or several types of bets that we’ve described in the sections above.
In the screenshot below, you can see a small part of available tennis bets — with the best tennis odds and payouts.
Place a Bet!
When you decide on the most favorable combination of tennis bets, go to the betslip on the left side of the screen. There will be windows for single and multiple bets that are automatically updated.
Make sure you choose bets that are compatible; otherwise, you won’t be able to proceed further.
Withdraw the Winning Money
Finally, it’s time for the best part — receiving your well-deserved payouts! For this, go to your personal account (located on the upper menu) and find the ‘Withdraw’ tab. Then choose the payment method and send a request.
Summary
As you can tell, tennis betting is both complicated and very simple at the same time. On the one hand, you have multiple options with the best tennis odds and conditions, the need for thorough research, and the right timing. On the other hand, there is a one-stop shop for all types of wagers — Parimatch. Thus, your betting activity becomes much more fun.
Now that you know how to bet on tennis, use the good knowledge for a solid profit in the future. Make sure to start small before moving your strategy to the next level. You don’t need to rush anything. With small gains (and sometimes losses) comes valuable experience that will get you rolling in the dough very soon.
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How to Bet on Tennis FAQ
Is Tennis a Good Sport to Bet On?
Yes! There are myriad tennis betting opportunities — tennis is a year-round sport, so there is no downtime. But don’t overdo it; instead, focus on a few targeted plays from a large selection available and wait for them to jump in.
How Often Do Underdogs Win in Tennis?
Sometimes the clear underdogs beat big-name rivals, but it’s unwise to rely on these instances in your betting strategy. Under usual circumstances, the favorites in tennis are more likely to defeat underdogs than in many other sports.
Is Tennis Betting Profitable?
Despite the favorites usually winning, you can bet not only on the overall winner of the match but also on sets, games, and even individual points. This creates a perfect scenario for placing different types of bets. If you know the specifics of a certain tournament and the players, each of them can give you a good payout margin.
What Is the Most Profitable Betting Strategy?
The best strategy is to do the right research. Players have contrasting styles, abilities, and on-court personalities. And it’s not only about the strongest or fastest one — some players match up well against certain opponents despite ranking lower. Also, make sure you know the specifics of the tournament and court in question.
How Do You Know Who Is Winning in Tennis?
In tennis, 1 point = 15, 2 points = 30, 3 points = 40. To win the game, a player must win at least four points, i.e., they can be up 40-30, 40-15, or 40-0, and win the game by one more point.
What Is the Easiest Bet to Win in Tennis?
The simplest and most common bet is the winner of the match bet. If you’re just starting out, it’s a great starting point. If you bet on a certain player winning the match and they win — congrats!