How to Bet on Tennis
Tennis is one of those sports that trades the camaraderie of teams for individual ambition. Add to that a unique scoring system and episodic gameplay that pushes players to their physical limit, and you have a singular sport where winning requires athletic prowess and intellectual grit.
As such, there’s more to understand about how to bet on tennis than first meets the eye.
Whether you’re newer to the game than Naomi Osaka or your bankroll goes back to McEnroe and Connors, there’s always more to know about what it takes to craft a tennis betting strategy that’s as winning as Roger Federer.
TYPES OF TENNIS BETS
When you visit your favorite sportsbook to place bets on a tennis match, you’ll be presented with options that are fairly similar to those for most other sports, like basketball and baseball. At least for the most part.
After all, tennis overlaps with other sports only in the thrill and excitement it offers spectators. The same can be said of tennis betting. As such, knowing how to bet on tennis matches begins with understanding the various betting types and how they’re adjusted to fit the game.
The most common types of tennis bets are:
Tennis spread
Moneyline
Over/under
Futures
Props
Live betting
Totals
Individual point
Unforced errors – When a player makes a mistake that isn’t caused by their opponent, it’s known as an unforced error. These happen to even the best players from time to time, but if a player has a lot of them it’s probably best to avoid picking them as the winner. Examples include hitting the ball out of bounds, into the net, or onto the wrong section of the court.
Aces – A player lands an ace when they deliver an unreturned serve. The higher a player’s ace frequency, the better.
Serve breaks – A serve break is when a player wins a match served by the other player. A player with a historically low ace frequency could still be a good bet if they have a high serve break rate.
Professional tennis courts are generally classified in one of the following ways:
Hard – These are either concrete or asphalt and feature an acrylic top layer. They’re good for players who play fast, featuring a moderate amount of bounce that keeps the bail sailing smoothly.
Clay – Made of shale, stone, or brick, clay courts are great for slower play. Favored by baseline and all-court players, they’re known for their higher bounce rate.
Grass – Grass courts aren’t very common in professional tennis, mostly because of the maintenance they require. They have a low bounce that facilitates fast play and benefits players who rely on the strength of their serve.
Carpet or turf – In most cases, carpet or turf courts are great for fast games and contribute to a lower bounce. That said, there can be a lot of variance depending on the materials they’re made of.
Start with a specific amount and stick to it
Always wager within your budget
Keep your daily bets below 10 percent of your bankroll amount
The men:
Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz
Daniil Medvedev
The women:
Iga Swiatek
Aryna Sabalenka
Casper Ruud