Tennis Review

Introduction to Tennis Betting

Tennis generates the second highest number of online bets and turnover after football. Some bookmakers take more bets during in-play matches rather than before the play begins. The sport lends itself to in-play betting due to changes in momentum and fluctuations in the score. In fact, throughout one game if the scores are close, both players can be the favourite and underdog. Bettors can place bets on the outcome of every point. Bookmakers suspend live betting after a key event such as a break of serve or the end of a set. Customers can cash out tennis bets for selected events and markets. Changes in the score provide windows of opportunity to cash out a tennis bet before the final outcome is known. This option guarantees a profit or limits the loss regardless of the result.

Betting Events

Bookmakers offer odds on tournaments on the ATP and WTA tours. These are the premier professional tours for male and female players. Most bookmakers also cover Challenger Tour events and International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments. These events are at the next two levels on the pyramid. Betting is also popular on international team events, such as the Davis Cup for men and the Fed Cup for women. However, by far the biggest events for betting are the four Grand Slam tournaments. These are the Australian Open in January, French Open in late May and early June, Wimbledon in July and US Open at the end of August.

Betting Types

Customers can place tennis bets in four types of markets. Pre-match betting takes place in the days leading up to a match. The odds are subject to fluctuation, depending on form and injury news. When a match begins, betting moves to the in-play environment, and the odds change in line with the progress of play and score. Bettors can back the outright winner of upcoming tournaments in ante-post markets. The most popular future events are the four Grand Slam tournaments. Some bookmakers offer a customised betting facility. Customers create their own multiple tennis bet by combining several outcomes in one match.

Tennis Markets

Bookmakers display the two-way match result market (Player 1, Player 2) and the match details, such as tournament and projected starting time. Traders compile the match winner market with a profit margin of about 5%, but there are variances between bookmakers. There is usually a link to the related betting options of which with some bookmakers there are up to 30. Sportsbooks display the additional tennis markets under the following headings: match, totals, handicaps including Asian handicaps, sets, games, break of serve and Specials.