How to bet on tennis online

By James Walters

The tennis world seemingly never stops, with a year-round schedule of events packing the sporting calendar, and offering countless opportunities to bet on tennis.

With the sport’s format offering fast-paced action, packed into bite-sized games and sets, tennis is perfectly suited to sports betting, and betting on live tennis is a popular option for those looking to enhance their enjoyment of the sport while the matches are underway.

In our “how to bet on tennis” guide, we’ll explain how tennis betting works, and walk you through the different ways you can bet on tennis, from match betting to set betting to live, in-play tennis betting. 

History of tennis

In the UK, it’s thought that between 1859 and 1865 the game was first played on a croquet lawn in Birmingham and founded the world’s first tennis club in 1872. 

Fast forward to the present day, and the game has grown dramatically with 21st century superstars such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer transcending the sport and becoming ‘celebrities’ in their own right. The four grand slams became the ultimate yardstick for success, with Djokovic leading the way in the men’s game with 24 major titles. 

While the men’s game was flourishing, it took until 1973, for the women’s game to gain professional status. A consortium of players brought together by Billie Jean King a week before that year’s Wimbledon Championships made it happen. This led to the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association [WTA], which then saw the boom in TV rights and popularity of the women’s game throughout the 1980s.

Different types of bet in tennis

One of the biggest reasons why tennis is such a popular sport for bettors is the sheer variety of different bets on offer. Whether you just want to bet on the winner of a match, or bet in play on who will win the next point, there is a market for just about everything that happens during the course of a tennis match.

Here are some of the most popular tennis betting markets: 

Outright betting

Sometimes called tournament betting, this market is where you bet on a player to win a particular tennis tournament. These markets tend to focus on the next upcoming tour events, and the big Grand Slam tournaments that form the major championships of the tennis calendar. Often, these markets remain live during the tournament so you can bet on players, as a tournament is ongoing.

Win betting

This is the simplest bet you can place on a tennis match. Simply pick your winner. Some bookmakers will offer odds on the match as a whole and, if a match is already underway, also give you the opportunity to bet on who will win the current set.

Set betting

This is the equivalent of correct score betting in football. Here, you predict the final score, in sets, with odds available on each potential outcome. Some bookmakers also offer ‘total sets’ betting, where you can bet on how many sets will be played in a given match, and ‘set winner’ betting, where you can bet on who will win specific sets in a match.

Total games betting

This is the equivalent of over/under goals betting in football. Here, you predict how many total games the match will feature. 

For instance if Player A beats Player B 6-3, 6-2, 7-5, then the total games would add up to 29. You can make your bet on whether you think a match will go under or over X amount of games. 

Handicap betting

This is when a bookmaker decides how many more games one player will win than the other over the course of a tennis match. The favourite will be given a handicap, in games, with the underdog being given the equivalent number of games as a head start.

It means that, even if a player is losing in straight sets, if they keep each set close, they can still be a winner on the handicap. And, if you think a particular match is likely to be much closer than the bookmakers do, backing the underdog could potentially earn you a winner, even if your player loses the match itself.

Tennis prop bets

“Prop” stands for “proposition” and is the catch-all term for betting markets that don’t specifically affect or dictate the final outcome of a game or match. Different bookmakers offer different prop bets on tennis, but they can often include bets around the following:

• Aces
• Double faults
• Breaks of serve
• Tie breaks

These markets may come in the form of ‘totals’ markets, where you bet on how many times a prop will occur, or a head-to-head bet on which player will deliver the prop during the course of the match.

In-play betting on tennis

The stop-start nature of tennis, with points, games and sets, makes it perfect for live in-play betting, and online bookmakers have made it incredibly easy to bet on the action during matches. They update odds in real time, and you can often bet on all of the aforementioned markets, with additional options, such as betting on who will win the next game, or even the next point.

Tennis betting can be fast and furious, and that makes it an exciting option for anyone looking to bet on live sport.

Tennis scoring explained

Tennis can be a thrilling sport to watch, but the scoring system can be a little confusing to sports fans unfamiliar with its somewhat inconsistent scoring terminology.

Put simply, to win a game of tennis, a player needs to win four points and ensure they win by two clear points. However, the scoring terminology makes it seem somewhat different.

How to read tennis odds

Tennis odds can appear in one of three different formats, fractional, decimal, or American. Here’s a quick guide to each:

Fractional

These odds are displayed as a fraction, with the first number denoting how much you will win against the second number, which is the stake.

For example, if a player was 2/1 to win a match, that would mean that a winning bet would see you win £2 for every £1 you stake. So, a winning £10 pound bet would see you get £30 in return – 2 x £10 in winnings, plus your returned £10 stake.

Decimal

These odds are shown in decimal numeric format, and show the return you will get for a £1 stake. 

Using the same example above, but in decimal format, the odds would be shown as 3.00. So a winning bet on this player would mean 3.00 x your £10 stake, and would return £30 in total.

American

These odds work differently, with a numeric value, prefixed with either a plus (to denote the underdog) or a minus (to denote the favourite). Minus odds illustrate how much money you would have to stake to win £100, while plus odds illustrate how much you can win with a bet of £100.

Using the same example of a tennis match, the American odds on this player would be +200. So a £10 bet at these odds would win £20, plus your £10 stake money + £30.

Most popular tennis tournaments to bet on

With tournaments held throughout the year, there’s never a shortage of tennis to bet on, but the majority of interest focuses on the season’s Grand Slam events. These tentpole tournaments represent the pinnacle of the sport, and are held four times through the year:

• Australian Open – January
• French Open – May/June
• Wimbledon Championships – July
• US Open – August/September

Other major events include the annual ATP Finals, which take place in November, and feature the highest-ranked players that year, who do battle on the court to claim the final big tournament prize of the tennis year.

And, during an Olympic year, the Olympic Games also offer another major tournament, with the lure of an Olympic gold medal placing the tournament in equal, or sometimes higher, esteem than the four Grand Slam tournaments. 

Step-by-step guide to setting up a sports betting account, selecting a bet, and placing it

Now you know about tennis, and the different bets available, how do you bet on tennis? In short, it’s easy. Check this simple step-by-step guide and you’ll be up and running in no time.

Create an account

If you haven’t already, create an account with your chosen bookmaker. Do your homework first by checking our list of the best UK bookmakers to ensure the site you choose is reputable, and offers the sports and markets you would like to bet on.

Deposit funds

Once your account is set up, the next step is to deposit funds into your account. This will require details of your bank card, plus some additional personal ID information. 

Choose your bet

Head to the tennis section of the site, find the tournament and match you want to bet on and select the market you’d like to bet.

Place your bet

Once you’ve found the selection you want to bet on, add it to your online betslip and select the amount you would like to bet on that outcome. Double check your betslip to make sure the amount entered is correct, then hit the submit bet button to place your bet.

Tennis betting strategies: Key tips

Do your research

With so much tennis played throughout the year, there is no shortage of statistical tennis information at your fingertips. Search online to find players’ form, head-to-head stats and check the injury situation for both players in the match you plan to bet on.

The playing surface can be a major factor

While tennis is a consistent game in terms of its ruleset, the different surfaces used can make two different matches look almost like different sports. While clay court matches can often be long, drawn-out, gruelling affairs, the lightning-fast lawn surface makes grass court tennis a very different proposition altogether. Hard courts, with their synthetic, technologically-developed playing surfaces, aim to offer a happy medium between the two. 

It means that some players become specialists on a particular surface, and while a player may be a formidable threat on a clay court, their style of play might not translate as well to a grass court, and vice versa. So checking players’ records on the relevant surface is also crucial to your betting success.

Shop around for the best odds

Bookmakers have their own teams of odds compilers (called traders), who set the odds for every market, on every match, so there will always be small differences between the odds offered by different bookmakers. If you have accounts with a few different betting sites, you can shop around to find which bookie is offering you the biggest potential payout and bet with them.

Look out for bonuses

Sports betting sites often run promotions and bonuses around big sporting events, so it’s well worth checking your shortlist of reputable betting sites to see if any are offering offers around your chosen tournament, or match. You might be able to get your bet on, and bank a free bonus in the process.

Bookmakers will use these bonuses and promotions around sign up offers and big events for new and returning customers. This will include things such as free bets, cashback offers based on their wagers and also enhanced accumulator boosts; an example being betting on two or more outright winners in an accumulator format and the bookmaker will enhance your odds. 

Only bet what you can afford to lose

Only stake money you’re OK to lose because not every bet will be a winner. If your default position is recognising that you may not win, then everything you do win will be a bonus. Also, never bet with emotion and don’t chase your losses. 

Key tennis betting terms

Responsible gambling

Whenever you are gambling, it’s always important to do so responsibly, and that means being aware of your activity, and setting limits to ensure that you stay in control of your betting. Online betting websites offer a wide range of responsible gambling tools that are designed to help you bet responsibly. These can include deposit limits, time limits, time-out features and more.

Check out our responsible gambling guide for more information about how you can ensure you stay in control of your betting with the use of best practices and responsible gambling tools. Remember, you must be at least 18 years of age to legally gamble in the UK.

FAQs

How can I bet successfully on tennis?

While there is no guarantee of success in any kind of betting, you can give yourself the best chance of success in your tennis betting by knowing how tennis betting works, understanding the variables that can affect a player’s chances of success and by doing your research before placing your bets. If you do those things, then you stand a much better chance of being successful.

What is the legal age to bet on tennis in the UK? 

Per the Gambling Act 2005, the legal age to bet in the UK is 18 years. This applies to tennis betting and betting on any other sport or activity.

Can I bet on live tennis matches?

Yes. Live in-play betting can be some of the most fun you can have when betting on sports. The back-and-forth nature of the sport, coupled with the potential for huge momentum swings during matches, makes live in-play betting an often thrilling experience.

Can I bet on individual sets in tennis?

Yes. Some bookmakers offer live in-play betting that allow you to bet on almost anything, right down to who will win the next point. Betting on who will win the next set is often an option made available to bettors when the match is in play.

Is tennis betting legal in the UK?

Yes. Betting on tennis is legal. We recommend you ensure you are always betting with a licenced, regulated, reputable bookmaker to ensure that your betting transactions, and your banking details, remain secure.

What are enhanced odds?

Enhanced odds are larger-than-usual odds on a given winner, or outcome, to encourage people to bet. Enhanced odds are often used to stimulate betting on specific matches, or tournaments, and if used smartly, can help you enhance your winnings as part of your tennis betting.

What are walkovers in tennis betting?

If a tennis match is a ‘walkover’, it means that one player has pulled out before the start of the match - specifically, before the first serve of the game is struck.