Betting on tennis has always been popular, but this is growing thanks to the fact that we now have a year-round schedule, thrilling one-on-one matchups, and global tournaments. However, if you’re new to sports betting, you may be left wondering how tennis odds work and how you can wager on this sport. As you read on, this is just what we’ll be covering so that you can go ahead and bet with confidence.
What Are Tennis Odds?
Basically, tennis odds represent the probability of a certain outcome in a match or tournament. They also show how much you could win if your bet selection is successful. In most sportsbooks, you’ll come across odds in three formats. Here’s a look at these now:
- Decimal odds: These are displayed in ways such as 1.50, 2.0, 9.9. They are most common in Europe and Australia and your potential payout is calculated by multiplying your stake by the odds.
- Fractional odds: These look like 10/1, 2/1 etc and are popular in the UK. The top number shows the potential profit while the bottom number shows the stake needed to earn that profit.
- Moneyline odds: Displayed like -125 or +150 etc, this format is most common in the US. A negative number shows how much you need to bet to win $100 while a positive number shows how much you’d win from a $100 bet.
Regardless of the format used, each one gives you the same information: the likelihood of an outcome and the potential return on offer.
Types of Tennis Bets
With sports bets on tennis, you have a range of options, such as:
Match Winner
This is the most straightforward tennis bet. All you need to do is pick who will win a match. Let’s say that Novak Djokovic is facing Carlos Alcaraz and the former has odds of 1.60 while the latter is at 2.40. These odds would tell you that Djokovic is the favourite to win.
Set Betting
Rather than betting on just the outcome of the match, you are predicting which player will win a certain amount of sets. It could be that you bet that a player will win 2-1 in a three set match. This bet is riskier than a match winner but it offers higher rewards.
Over/Under Total Games
Here, there’s no need to choose a winner at all. Instead, you place your money on whether the total number of games in a match will be over or under a specific number that the sportsbook sets.
Handicap Betting
Handicaps are used to level the playing field in tennis matches. Let’s say that there’s a strong favourite, a -3.5 handicap could be used. This would mean that the favourite would need to win by at least 4 games more than their opponent for a bet to be successful.
How Are Tennis Odds Determined?
Sportsbooks consider a range of factors when setting tennis odds. These include:
- Player ranking and recent form: Higher-ranked or in-form players will usually have lower odds.
- Head-to-head records: Past matchups will have an impact on future predictions.
- Playing surface: Some players excel on grass while others perform better on clay.
- Injuries and fatigue: Any physical issues will have a big impact on the odds.
Live Betting and In-Play Odds
Tennis world well with live betting because matches can turn extremely quickly. With live bets, odds update in real-time and are based on exactly what is unfolding. As an example, if a player loses the first set but has a history of comebacks, this could be reflected in the odds that you see.
Live betting brings something new to the whole sports betting experience. Platforms, such as Sportsbet.io, specialise in the in-play betting experience and offer immersive and engaging opportunities for bettors.
How to Read Tennis Odds Effectively
If you’re using decimal odds, it could be that you see:
- Medvedev – 1.70
- Sinner – 2.10
If you placed a $100 bet on Medvedev to win, the potential payout would be $170 ($100×1.70). This includes the profit as well as the original stake. If you bet on Sinner, the return would be $210 ($100×2.10) which would be a profit of $110.
The lower the odds are the more likely the outcome is perceived to happen but this comes with smaller rewards.
Value Betting in Tennis
Smart bettors look for value with tennis odds. This is where the odds seem to underestimate the player’s real potential. To benefit from this, there’s a need to study form, player psychology, and surface preferences. This work has the potential to really pay off.
It could be that you find a lower-ranked player but they have a history of performing well against top 10 listed players when on clay. The low rank may lead to high odds, making a win seem unlikely, but your knowledge could reveal hidden value. Knowing what you know, it suddenly becomes a worthwhile risk to place a bet on the outsider and to ignore the favourite.
Final Thoughts
When you understand tennis odds you’re able to make informed decisions and this only boosts the enjoyment of the sport. Whether you’re betting on an outright winner, the number of aces, or anything else, reading the odds lets you calculate the probability of the outcome and to see the potential profit in a bet.
