How to place successful tennis bets?
Tennis is one of the most important sports disciplines in the world and its main characteristic is that weekly tournaments are held in different countries, on different surfaces (grass, hard and clay). The possibility of having great competitions within reach, whether ITF, Challenger, ATP, Masters 1000 or Grand Slam, both in ATP and WTA, could generate valuable betting profits. However, it is necessary to know the terms used in this category to avoid careless losses: what is a game, an ace, a double fault, a tie-break, a set point, a match point, a break or unforced errors? If you want to know how these items work to make your predictions, then continue reading.
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What should I know before placing a tennis bet?
The game of racquets is simple to understand, but it is necessary to learn the fundamental rules regarding how the winner of a match is determined. The first thing to mention is that most tournaments, in both men's and women's categories, name the winner as the first to win two sets in a best of three format. However, this aspect changes only in Grand Slam events for men (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open). These tournaments are played as a best of five format, meaning a player must win three sets to win the match.
Likewise, each set is comprised of six games. To win a game, a player must win four points, which are divided into figures of: 15, 30, 40 and 60 (point obtained). In case of a 5-5 game score, the set will be extended to a possible 7-5; while in a 6-6 situation, it will be necessary to resort to the tie-break: an extra round, within the same set, of at least seven full points to get the winning point (7-5, 8-6, 9-7, etc.). In addition, it should be noted that each tennis player holds serve intermittently and a player winning a game where they are not serving is called a break or break/loss of service. In this area, there is the ace, defined as the serve not being successfully returned. Double faults occur when the serving player makes two consecutive mistakes on their serve (whether out of play, into the net, etc.) which results in the other player receiving a point.
Continuing on, there is the set point, which occurs when a player is one point away from winning the set, i.e. a 40-15 (40-0 or 40-30) in a 5-4 set (or 5-3, 5-2, etc.). The match point operates in a similar way, although its relevance is greater as it means one of the players is a single point away from winning the match.
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What are the most popular bets in tennis?
A tennis match cannot end in a draw so the most common predictions are based on choosing the player who will come out on top. Likewise, the odds vary depending on the ATP and WTA rankings, as the favorites in a match usually have the lower odds. This value directly affects the additional markets to choose within a match and here we detail which are the most important ones:
- Winner of the first or second set.
Although it is possible to select the winner of the overall match, it is also possible to do it in a split way: by betting on the winner of the individual sets.
- Total games in the match
The games are all the points played during a match: guessing the sum will determine the winner in this event. For example, if a duel between Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev ends in 6-4, 5-7 and 6-3, a total of 31 games will have been played. The ticket would end up being a winner if the choice was 30.5 games or more.
- Total games per player
In the same vein, there is the alternative of choosing the number of games per player. If Novak Djokovic won 6-4 and 7-5, it means that he had registered a total of 13 games won for himself. It is vital to note that a tie-break (seven full points) only adds up to one game for this category.
- Total games per set
Bets can also be placed on the total number of games in a single set. For example, if Iga Swiatek defeated Ons Jabeur 6-1 in the first set, it means that there were seven games played.
- Total sets played
Next, there is the option of the number of sets played in a match. In regular calendar events, predictions of more than 2.5 sets are popular, as you are essentially betting that the underdog is able to win at least one set and doesn’t get beat 2-0. Men's Grand Slams allow you to choose between 3.5 or 4.5 sets in a match.
- Both players win a set
Likewise, a prediction that considers that both players can win a set during a match is also possible. The performance of athletes of similar performance is productive in this bet type.
- Total service breaks
The category of total breaks of serve in general is also a possibility. It is based on the number of times a player did not take advantage of his serve to win the game. At the same time, it can be done on an individual basis: the highest level tennis players tend to reap the most breaks against their opponent.
- Total aces
Related to the serves, bettors can also wager on the number of aces, which occur when the opposing player cannot successfully return the players serve. Here, it is important to verify the type of surface, since the ball has a different speed on clay, grass or hard courts.
- Total double faults
Bets can also be placed on the number of double faults: these occur when the serving player fails to properly put their service in play over two attempts. Double faults are considered when the executions are too short or too long (outside the determined quadrant). Only if the ball grazes the top of the net can the service be repeated (without counting as an infringement): the judge indicates a "let".
- Total tie-breaks
Another current market is to predict the total tie-breaks, which only occurs when the score is 6-6. In this circumstance, there is a rally of seven whole points to achieve the winning score: it can occur in any of the sets. Let's understand that in Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open (the four Grand Slams), it is called super tie-break in the fifth male set and third female set: here it consists of 10 full points.
- Set and games handicap
Finally, there is the set handicap (+1.5 or -1.5 in common tournaments and +2.5 or -2.5 in Grand Slams); and games handicap (e.g. +7.5, -6.5, etc.) to give an advantage or disadvantage to the players.
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What details should I consider before betting on tennis?
“Home field advantage” is usually not a concern unless the tournament in question is within the home nation of one of the competing athletes. Thus, the main factor to take into account first would be the type of surface on which the match is played (grass, clay and hard court - indoor/outdoor). Some athletes perform markedly better on a specific type of court compared to others. Think Rafael Nadal on clay courts – it is quite common to come across “specialists” who really shine when playing on their preferred surface. It’s also important to check the recent form of the players involved, to try to identify any potential hot or cold streaks in recent months.
Another aspect to consider is the ATP or WTA rankings. The various weekly tournaments award a number of points (100, 250, 500, 1000 or 2000) to first place and reduced figures, depending on the stage reached, to the remaining participants. The classification is updated according to the performance of each athlete on the tour. Here you can find out what is the favorite event of each player in the circuit or if he/she comes with a long period of injury for which he/she did not add up in the world ranking.
Finally, we must never lose sight of the psychological aspect, as it holds great importance because of the solitary nature of tennis. There are no teammates to lean on for tennis players who are 100% responsible for their performances. Therefore, it is normal that pressure can seep in, whether it is due to the lack of winning results, injuries or just or even just a negative sequence during a match. Sometimes, not having mental strength can cause unforced errors, inconsistent play and potentially even injuries. By checking the above matches, an estimate can be made of how each tennis player deals with this aspect.
Study the points from the serve and win!
In conclusion, placing a bet on tennis goes hand in hand with the number of points and games, which is why it is essential to know how each available market works before confirming your betslip. In the same way, it is vital to make an analysis of the playing field in each competition, since some have a higher standard of play on a specific type of court. In addition, never forget the ATP or WTA rankings, which is a weekly reflection of everything an athlete has done in the course of a year, so you can predict how he or she will perform in the next tournament they will play. Last but not least, it is necessary to analyze the mental strength of each athlete and how they react to favorable or adverse scenarios. Check out our expert tennis predictions page for more information!
