Tennis Betting Odds Explained: An In-Depth Guide To Betting On Tennis

Tennis is a popular sport worldwide, with millions of fans watching their favourite players compete for titles and ranking points. Yet, tennis comes with a complicated scoring system that can confuse the uninitiated. Betting odds on tennis are not as complex, but they can also be challenging for novice bettors.

To help you understand betting lines, we prepared an extensive guide with tennis betting odds explained in full. Once you master the art of odds reading, you’ll be well-prepared to earn massive profits on tennis betting.

Therefore, without further ado, here are the basics of tennis betting odds. Plus, you’ll learn how to place bets on tennis and maximise returns.

6 Quick Facts About Tennis Betting Odds

• Tennis betting odds express the probability of an event happening on the court.
• Tennis betting odds come as pre-match and live odds.
• Typically, the odds on favourites in tennis have a low value.
• Bookmakers express tennis betting odds in fractional, decimal, or moneyline format.
• Tennis betting odds can differ from one betting site to another.
• Odds comparison tools can help you find the best tennis betting odds.

Tennis is a sport with an impressive history, going back to the 12th century. Over the years, the game evolved and grew into a spectacular show that lasts from January till late November.

Simultaneously, betting on tennis also grew in popularity with each season. Nowadays, bettors place millions on Djokovic, Nadal, Halep, or Osaka. Here’s how you can join those punters and have a shot at earning hefty returns on tennis.

How To Bet on Tennis?

Tennis provides a constant supply of betting opportunities, thanks to the long-lasting season. High-profile events are on the menu all year round, with the four Grand Slam tournaments being the most attractive. Of course, the best betting sites in the UK offer a wealth of tennis betting markets.

Since there is no draw in tennis, this sporting category only offers two-way options. As such, these markets give bettors less room for error. Tennis betting lines cover only two possibilities, removing the tie option from the equation.

No matter if you bet on single players, doubles, or national teams, tennis matches should provide plenty of excitement. In most cases, bettors start their tennis betting careers by placing straightforward ‘to win’ bets. These wagers will have you predicting a winner of an individual match, either on a Grand Slam or any other tournament.

Nonetheless, the straight win bet is far from being the only option. Almost every online betting guide to tennis will tell you that you can bet on tournament winners. Likewise, over/under markets and handicap betting are at your disposal at new betting sites, alongside in-play betting on tennis. In translation, you can place wagers on the number of sets or aces, but you can also bet while the action is ongoing.

Either way, you’ll need a deep understanding of betting odds if you want to be successful at tennis betting. Therefore, let’s see what you need to know about odds and probabilities in tennis.

How to Read Tennis Betting Odds

If we want to have tennis betting odds explained, we should first say that bookmakers express the odds in three formats: fractional, decimal, and moneyline. Even so, they all represent the same thing — the probability of an event taking place. Many odds converters on the market can help you transform the odds from one format to the other.

At UK betting sites, you’ll primarily see fractional odds (ex. 7/1, 1/4, 5/2). Moneyline odds (ex. -110, +105) dominate the US market, while the decimal odds rule the rest of the world. Arguably, decimal odds (ex. 1.25, 1.5) are the most convenient because they allow bettors to calculate returns easily.

After all, if you want to know how to bet on tennis and win, you should know how to calculate profits. For instance, the decimal odds show the likelihood of an event in the following manner:

1 / decimal odds =  1 / 1.25 = 0.80  → 80%

Therefore, the probability of something with odds of 1.25 happening in the future is 80%. In tennis, low-value odds like the one in our example are relatively common. That’s because top-seated players, such as Djokovic or Nadal, rarely lose their matches. Then again, we already said that you don’t have to bet on the favourites every time you take a look at the tennis betting section.

Moreover, the odds on many other tennis betting markets can be much more rewarding. Yet, bettors need to keep an eye on the following elements before placing the wagers.

Tennis Betting Rules: What to Consider Before Betting?

Admittedly, UK bookmakers can be highly efficient in predicting the favourites on tennis matches. Pre-match odds rarely fluctuate match, unlike in-play betting odds. For that reason, bettors can use the lines as a guideline when making their tennis betting plan.

Plus, it’s essential to analyse the statistics and crunch the numbers before placing a bet. Tennis offers an endless array of relevant data, and any betting enthusiast knows that the use of statistics can give you an edge over the bookies.

One of the fundamental tennis betting rules is to check head-to-head records and previous matches of the two opponents. Likewise, bettors should consider the playing surface and the weather. Players often have preferences towards specific courts, such as the famous Nadal’s penchant for clay at the French Open. Also, fitness and recovery from injuries can affect a player’s performance. The same goes for motivation and the mental state of a tennis player, both on ATP and WTA tours.

Many variables affect the results, making it challenging to find value bets and choose the most favourable tennis betting odds. That said, here are a couple of tips to help you with betting on tennis.

What Is the Best Way To Bet on Tennis?

Once you learn how to recognise high-value odds, it’s time to put that knowledge to good use. In translation, turn your love for tennis into steady profits.

First, bettors should have several accounts at the best sportsbooks on the market. Only legitimate and reputable betting sites come into contention, so avoid betting on unregulated websites. Multiple accounts will allow you to shop for the best lines and stick to the odds that provide the best value.

Besides shopping for the most favourable tennis betting lines, punters should focus on a specific game element that they should specialise in. Some bettors become masters of handicap betting, while others turn to live betting on tennis. Likewise, some punters only bet on doubles while others focus on strong servers and place wagers on the number of aces.

The possibilities are almost endless, allowing you to choose an area that best suits your style. Since handicaps affect the betting odds, we should take a closer look at this method.

How Does Tennis Handicap Betting Work?

In tennis, handicaps come as allocated or deducted games. Nonetheless, the concept remains the same as in any other sport. Handicap betting helps with levelling the playing field and reducing the favourite’s perceived advantage.

For example, a betting handicap could see a favourite start the match with -2.5 games. In that case, the winning chances would be lower because the player has an extra obstacle to overcome. In return, tennis betting odds on such a player would increase, providing more value to the bettors.

Since handicap betting increases the odds, it might look like the best way to bet on tennis. Yet, live betting is a strong contender for the title of the most profitable tennis betting method. Handicapping does not affect much, aside from the odds. On the other hand, in-play betting adds an extra element to betting on Wimbledon or US Open.

Therefore, let’s see what type of odds you can expect with live betting on tennis.

Tennis Live Betting Strategy

Live betting on tennis is a relatively recent trend, but it has taken the world by storm. The development of modern technologies enabled real-time broadcasts and allowed bettors to place wagers as the action takes place.

Thanks to slow-paced gameplay and the time-outs after serving, tennis offers enough time for placing wagers between each point. Nevertheless, be quick to pull the trigger.

Bettors should also know that live betting odds on tennis fluctuate and shift with the game’s momentum. Primarily, the in-play odds are serve-dependent, and they move as players exchange serves.

The fluctuating odds make it challenging to create an optimal tennis live betting strategy, but you shouldn’t give up easily. Point-by-point betting can yield massive returns as long as you do the proper research and learn about the player’s strengths and weaknesses.

Namely, the odds offered on the favourites in live betting could be higher than the pre-match lines. If you are backing a powerful server to win a point, the odds might not be as rewarding. But if you hunt for a break while monitoring elements such as stamina or injuries, the profits could far outweigh the investments.

Conclusion: How To Win Money Betting On Tennis

As you could’ve seen, betting odds on tennis offer lots of exciting options. If the flexibility of in-play prices is not your cup of tea, pre-match lines on tennis could be up your alley. Both methods have their pros and cons, but both might yield significant returns.

Depending on the betting site, keep in mind that the odds can appear in fractional, decimal, or moneyline format. Then again, the representation does not change the idea — the odds express a perceived probability and show the likelihood of an outcome.

Our guide has the tennis betting odds explained, but nothing beats a hands-on approach. By registering with a betting site and placing wagers on tennis, you can get a deep understanding of tennis betting odds. Soon after that, you’ll realise that it’s best to stay focused on a single area and have multiple accounts with UK bookmakers.