Tennis Betting
Tennis may not be the most exciting of sports. As a matter of fact, some might say it is a glorified version of Pong. But you can bet on it and that makes it interesting to us. The question, however, is how to bet on tennis. We are here precisely to answer that very question. So let’s get to it.
Moneyline Tennis betting
Just like in every other sport, the moneyline is the most popular tennis bet there is. If you have ever laid a bet, then you know the moneyline is all about picking the winner of the match. For example, if Rafael Nadal is a -120 favorite over Roger Federer, you would have to bet $120 to win $100 on Nadal to win. If Federer is a +110 in underdog in the same match, you would win $110 on a $100 bet on the Swiss to win. Similar to baseball and hockey, where you can bet only on the first five innings or the first period, respectively, you can bet only on the first set in tennis, should you be so inclined.
Tennis Game Spread Betting
Many tennis matches are not quite what you would call evenly matched. The game spread is a way to make things a little more competitive. For example, if Novak Djokovic is a -1,100 fave over Denis Istomin in a three-set match, the game spread could be somewhere around -4.5. In other words, Djokovic would have to win five more games than Istomin in the match (say, 6-2, 6-3) to cover the spread. But if Djokovic wins 6-4, 6-4 and you wagered the +4.5 on Istomin, then you would win the bet.
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Tennis Set Spread Betting
This type of bet is pretty much the same as the game spread but with sets instead of games. for example, if Sloane Stephens is the favorite in her match against Monica Puig, she would be available at -1.5 sets, not unlike a baseball favorite is available at -1.5 runs on the run-line. If you were to bet on Stephens at -1.5 sets and she wins in straight sets (6-3, 6-0) then your bet is a winner. But if Puig wins a set, your bet is a loser.
Over/Under Tennis Betting
This is a bet on the total number of games played in a tennis match. For example, if Radu Albot and Fabio Fognini were to play a three-set match, the Over/Under could be set at 22.5 games. If you believe that the match will be close and bet the over, the match should last for at least 23 games for you to win the bet. Thus, if Albot wins 7-6, 6-4 that would result in 23 total games and you bet would be a winner. On the other hand, if the match ends 6-3, 7-6 your bet would be a loser because the match only lasted 22 games.
Other Tennis Bet Types
In addition to the moneyline, spread, and total, there are other ways of betting on tennis, as we are about to see below.
As it is the case in many other sports, there is a futures betting market for tennis competitions. They function in very much the same manner as futures odds for March Madness, for instance. And for the four major tennis tourneys, there is the possibility of betting on futures for each quarter. For example, if you bet on Simona Halep at -200 to win her quarter at the French Open, she would just have to advance to the semifinals to win your wager.
Tennis is one of the most attractive live betting markets there are. Odds can shift after every point so you have keep your finger on the trigger and stay on your toes. You may also bet on who will win the next upcoming game. With all of the potential fluctuation, it’s a great sport to trade, though just for the most seasoned gamblers. For example, if Roger Federer is down 4-0 in the fifth set at Wimbledon, you can bet on him at +800 live. Moreover, if he rallies to even the match at four games each, you can then bet on his opponent at +400 live.
Some sportsbooks, such as CashBet, will offer tennis props, like bets on the exact score or whether there will be a tiebreak or not.