How to bet on Tennis - The basics

Tennis is one of the most popular betting sports and when you take a look at the coverage on offer for punters it is easy to see why. Not only do we have regular tournaments throughout most of the year, but inside each tournament there are a number of different ways to bet.

Those who like to bet on the full tournament will find win and each way betting available ahead of the opening games, and also available during the tournament, allowing you to bet early or catch some of the action and see how things develop.

If you prefer to bet on individual matches, either on who will win the game in an accumulator or various bets inside a particular game then you are also in luck. Tennis offers a great coverage, and alongside betting on who will win the game you will also have the chance to back a correct score, handicap game betting, who will win the first set and much more. On top of this, these markets and more are available for those who wish to bet in play, so you can bet as the action is taking part and that adds a completely new element to your betting.

Basic Tennis Betting Markets

Those looking to get into tennis betting for the first time should look at the basic markets on offer. Regardless of the type of betting you have done before, you will know and understand what an accumulator bet is and this is one of the most popular ways to bet on tennis. With so many games taking place on the same day, tennis is a great sport for placing accumulators, and this is the easiest way to get involved if you are new. Simply look down the list of games taking place on the day and pick out some players you want to back. The odds on offer may not always be the best, but with an accumulator rolling up the odds, you can get a nice pay out if you put together a number of players.

If you would like to look for something at a slightly bigger price so that you can place a single bet on just one game then look for the correct score market. Here not only do you need to choose who wins the game, but you also need to correctly predict the score they will win by. Whether that’s a favourite you think will win in straight sets, or a game between two closely matched players that you think will go the distance and be a five set thriller, the choice is yours. This is great if you are looking to place a bet on one game that you are watching live, allowing you an interest that you can back as a single so you don’t have to worry about finding the score out of other games.

Tennis Bet Types

The most common way to bet on tennis is to place an accumulator on players to win their games. Each day there will be a variety of different games played, usually spread across multiple courts and there is a lot of action to keep up to date with. However, due to having so many games together on the same day, accumulator punters have a lot to choose from and that is why it is so popular.

In the earlier rounds of any tournament you will see the big names and seeded players facing players who are ranked a lot lower, and although the odds on offer are slim, if you put a few of them together they soon increase. When doing this you have to try and avoid the upsets that will naturally take place in the tournament, but it is a good way to make money early on, and then when you get to the later rounds you can look at the form book more and follow the in-form players.

Outright Betting on Tennis Events

Before an event kicks off and during it you are able to bet outright on who you think will win the tournament. To begin with you can place win or each way bets on the tournament, with each way covering the top two so the two finalists are the ones who win. As the tournament progresses, betting will turn to win only, so you will need to pick the winner when we get to that stage.

If you are looking to get involved early and pick out someone at a big price to do well and follow then outright betting is the way to go. This gives you an interest in the entire tournament, not just one game, so if you are looking for a way in without having to place bets on a regular basis then outright betting is for you.

Top Tip - Understanding the Different Tennis Court Surfaces

When you are studying the tennis form on offer as a newcomer to the sport it is vital that you understand the difference between surfaces. You don’t need to know everything about them, but it is important to note that some players perform much better on certain types of surface. For example, the clay court surface generally plays much slower than a grass court, so those who do well on clay like Rafa Nadal can sometimes struggle with the speed of the game in grass court tournaments such as Wimbledon. These little differences could have an impact on who wins the game, and when you are looking at the betting be sure to think about this.

When you are looking through the form book you should be able to see the type of surface that a game has been played on. Something to look out for and something that could give you a bit of value is a player who has been on a poor run, but is returning to his favoured surface. For example, if a player has lost some games on grass, but is returning to clay, although he has lost a few games recently, he could be one to side with for value as he is likely to bounce back to form on the surface he prefers.

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