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Tennis is one of the few sports that runs almost throughout the year with short breaks between the seasons.
Professional tennis is covered by multiple tours, which means the volume of games you can bet on is substantially larger than most. In this guide, we’re going to show you how to bet on tennis and have included betting tips and strategies to help you win more.
How to Bet on Tennis
To bet on tennis, you need a funded betting account. You can find instructions on how to set one up further down the page.
Below is a screenshot from the tennis betting page from BetOnline, one of the top betting sites around.
1. Choose a tournament
To start with, you’re going to want to choose a tournament to bet on. The highlights of the year are the four majors: Wimbledon, the US Open, French Open, and Australian Open.
However, main tours such as the ATP World and WTA Tour run more frequently and are likely better starting points.
2. Pick a tennis match
Next, choose a match from the tournament in question. Most of the best sports betting sites have dozens of games every day from tours around the world. Use the strategy guide further down to help pick a game and find some value.
3. Place your bets
Once you’ve made your pick, you then need to choose how much you want to stake.
This is going to vary depending on your bankroll, but if you’re new, then we highly recommend that you start small, if only to see how markets work and then react once live.
Real-World Example of a Tennis Bet
We’ve included a real-world example of how it might work to highlight how to bet on tennis. Again, the sportsbook we’ve used is BetOnline.
The game in question is between Roberto Bautista Agut and Gael Monfils at the ATP Mallorca in Spain.
For the purpose of this bet, we’re going to use the match-winner market, but as you can see, there’s another market for the winner of the first set that will become a live betting option when the match starts.
The odds on the match winner are as follows:
- Roberto Bautista Agut: -105
- Gael Monfils: -115
Monfils is the narrow favorite and we’re going to have an imaginary $115 on him to win. If he were to go on to win, we would make a profit of $100 for a payout of $215.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Bet on Tennis
To highlight how to bet on tennis online, we’re going to walk you through a step-by-step process of creating an account through to placing your bet.
The sportsbook we’ve used for this is BetOnline, but you’re going to find the process to be very similar regardless of which betting site you use.
Create an Account
You need to start by opening an account, which you can do by clicking on the JOIN button. This will open up the registration process, where you will create your account by entering personal information, such as name, address, telephone number, and email.
Deposit and Claim the Welcome Bonus
Once your account is live, you can head to the cashier to deposit. If you’re asked to opt-in to the welcome bonus, do so, but most sites won’t require this.
Use the Sportsbook to Navigate to Tennis
Use the menu on the left to navigate to the tournament you want to bet on, or simply pick from the long list of games on the page.
Choose Your Market
If you’re new, we recommend sticking with the match winner to familiarize yourself with how it works.
Place Your Bet
Click on the odds to add your pick to your bet slip. Once added, choose your stake, confirm that the bet and market is correct, and then place your bet. You can keep track of open bets within your account.
Top Tennis Tournaments to Bet on
When it comes to tennis betting, certain tournaments stand out for their prestige, competitiveness, and betting opportunities.
These top tennis tournaments attract the world’s best players and offer exciting matchups. From the Grand Slam events to the elite ATP and WTA tournaments, the best tennis betting sites provide the best action at these events.
Wimbledon
Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. It is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments and has been held annually in London, England, since 1877.
Known for its grass courts and iconic traditions, Wimbledon attracts global attention.
The tournament has seen legendary players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams claim numerous titles. Swiss great Roger Federer holds the record for the most men’s singles titles with eight, while Martina Navratilova holds the record for the most women’s singles titles with nine.
Wimbledon 2024 is almost upon us and there are hundreds of bets you can place on the tournament at the best offshore sportsbooks.
US Open
The US Open is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments and is held annually in New York City. Dating back to 1881, it has a rich history and is known for its hard courts at Flushing Meadows.
Some of the most decorated players at the US Open include Serena Williams, who holds the record for the most women’s singles titles in the Open Era with six, and Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, who share the record for the most men’s singles titles in the Open Era with five each. Read more on how to bet on US Open tennis across our site.
French Open
The French Open, also known as Roland Garros, is another of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments. It takes place annually in Paris, France, and has been played on clay courts since its inauguration in 1891.
Some of the most successful players in the history of the French Open include Rafael Nadal, who holds the record for the most men’s singles titles with 13. Chris Evert and Suzanne Lenglen, who each won the women’s singles title six times, are also Roland Garros legends. Check out how to bet on the French Open with a detailed guide.
Australian Open
The Australian Open has been running since 1905 and is the youngest of the four majors. It’s traditionally held in January and signals the start of the main tennis season.
Games are played on hard courts, with notable winners that include Novak Djokovic, currently holding the record for the most men’s singles titles with nine, and Margaret Court, who holds the record for the most women’s singles titles with eleven.
ATP Finals
The ATP Finals is an annual men’s tennis tournament that serves as the season-ending event for the top-ranked singles and doubles players on the ATP Tour. It features the top eight singles players and doubles teams competing for the title.
The tournament employs a round-robin format, with the participants divided into two groups. The top two players from each group advance to the knockout semifinals, followed by the final. Notable winners of the ATP Finals include Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras, and Ivan Lendl, among others.
WTA Finals
The WTA Finals, also known as the WTA Tour Championships, is the season-ending event for the top-ranked players on the WTA Tour. Like the ATP Finals, it brings together the top eight singles players and doubles teams to compete for the title.
Notable winners of the WTA Finals include Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, and Martina Hingis.
Types of Tennis Betting Markets
The best tennis betting sites will have a huge range of markets to choose from. The bigger the match, the more options there are. For the fullest range, target games from any of the majors as these have the biggest coverage and some interesting prop bets out there.
In this section of our guide on how to bet on tennis, we’ve included a range of markets below, along with information about how each of them works.
Pros and Cons of Tennis Betting
Pros: 
- Wide Range of Betting Options Tennis offers various betting markets, including match winners, set betting, over/under, handicaps, and more, providing ample opportunities for bettors to find value.
- High Frequency of Matches Tournaments are held year-round, providing a consistent stream of matches to bet on, from small-scale tournaments to prestigious Grand Slam events.
- Individual Sport As an individual sport, it makes it easier to analyze player performance, form, and historical data to make informed betting decisions.
- Live Betting Opportunities Tennis matches often offer live betting options, allowing bettors to place wagers in real time based on the changing dynamics and momentum of the game.
- Accessibility and Coverage Matches receive extensive media coverage, making it easier to gather information and follow the sport closely, including player news, injuries, and performance updates.
Cons: 
- Unpredictability Upsets and unexpected outcomes are common, making it challenging to predict results accurately and increasing the risk of losing bets.
- Player Injuries Injuries are prevalent, and sudden player withdrawals or limitations can significantly impact match outcomes and create uncertainty for bettors.
- Limited Tournament Depth Some smaller tennis tournaments may have limited data and coverage, making it harder to accurately assess player performance and form. This can make betting on lower-tier tournaments more challenging.
Tennis Betting Strategy
As part of our guide on how to bet on tennis, we wanted to show you some betting strategies that you can incorporate to become a more successful bettor.
- Match Winner Betting – This strategy involves betting on the player you believe will win the match. It’s a straightforward approach that’s suitable for beginners, focusing on predicting the overall outcome rather than specific details.
- Head-to-Head Analysis – Researching head-to-head records between players can provide valuable insights. Consider patterns, such as player dominance or favorable matchups, when making betting decisions.
- Surface Specialization – Different tennis players excel on different surfaces. Familiarize yourself with players’ preferences and their performance on different surfaces (grass, clay, hard courts). Betting on players with a strong record on a particular surface can be useful.
- In-Play Betting – Monitor matches live and identify momentum shifts, injuries, or player performance fluctuations to capitalize on changing odds. In-play betting allows you to react to the evolving dynamics of a match and find valuable opportunities.
- Statistical Analysis – Utilize advanced statistics, such as player serve percentages, return of serve efficiency, and break point conversion rates. Analyzing detailed statistics can provide a deeper understanding of player strengths and weaknesses, aiding in more accurate predictions.
- Value Betting – Look for discrepancies between your calculated odds and bookmakers’ odds to find value bets. Based on your research and analysis, assess the probability of outcomes and compare it to the odds offered. Betting when the odds provide value can yield long-term profits.
FAQs
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References
- https://www.wtatennis.com/ (WTA)
- https://www.atptour.com/en (ATP Tour)
- https://www.usta.com/en/home.html (USTA)
- https://www.wimbledon.com/index.html (Wimbledon)
