LowPlays Tennis Betting Guide

Tennis has millions of fans worldwide, but it still trails behind other popular sports in terms of betting activity. There’s been a surge of available betting markets in recent years, with sportsbooks offering all sorts of matches, special props, and even live betting for tennis events.

And don’t think that just because it’s not a team sport, betting on tennis is easy. There are several parameters you need to consider and plenty of bet types to choose from. That’s why we created this tennis betting guide to show you the intricate details of this beloved sport.

Betting on the ATP & WTA Tour

If you’re a newcomer to the sport, male and female tennis players compete in the ATP and WTA tours, respectively, with the tennis season lasting from January to November. Players compete in tournaments of various levels, including ATP 250, 500, and 1000 (the same levels also apply to the WTA).

These tournaments are held almost every week, and it’s important to note that players receive appearance fees for participating in the first round. This means that a well-known player may join a 250-level tournament just for the money, so it’s not always a good idea to back strong favorites in these events.

It’s also important to know the type of surface of each tournament. Different surfaces can alter the game significantly, and very few (if any) players excel in all of them. For instance, strong servers are much better on grass courts and “fast” hard courts, whereas baseline players prefer the slower clay courts.

Another thing to keep in mind is the weather conditions. The wind, especially, can play a big part, as sudden gusts can change the speed of the ball tremendously, which makes for some interesting live betting opportunities. Also, if a certain tournament is played at a high altitude or high humidity, it may affect players not used to playing in these conditions.

Betting on Grand Slams

Grand Slams are the most important tennis events, so every top player will be motivated to perform at their best. They are usually held during periods when the weather conditions are standard, so you won’t have to worry about them too much.

It’s important to note that men’s Grand Slam matches are best of five, which gives high-ranked players a better shot at bouncing back from a rough start. That’s why it’s often not advised to go against a strong favorite during the first few Grand Slam rounds, as they’re unlikely to drop early. That’s not the case in the women’s matches, though, as they compete in three sets just like all other tournaments.

Keep in mind that player matchups are extremely important in tennis and can often make for unique betting opportunities. For example, right-handed players often face issues against left-handers since they’re not used to playing against them. And players who rely on strong serving may struggle if they come across a great baseline defender.

Recommended Tennis Betting Sites

You can basically find tennis betting odds on all sportsbooks. However, the following betting sites offer unique features ideal for tennis fans or casual/low players.

• FanDuel Sportsbook – FanDuel offers a superior live betting experience with several markets and a live stream function. On top of these, its welcome bonus has a low minimum deposit, making it ideal for casuals and low-bankroll players.

• DraftKings Sportsbook – DraftKings makes great use of its unique betting features, like a same-game parlay, and offers several prop bets on tennis. You can also find a dedicated same-game parlay bonus and a welcome bonus with just a $5 minimum deposit.

• BetMGM Sportsbook – BetMGM stands out for its excellent user interface that lets you quickly spot the tennis match you want to bet on. The platform also comes with very competitive tennis odds and a large welcome offer for all new players.

• Betway Sportsbook – Betway offers a simplified UI that you can easily browse through. The platform stands out among tennis bettors for its several alternative spreads and totals, giving you a lot of betting flexibility.

Types of Bets

Now that you have a better idea of what to consider when betting on tennis let’s look at some key bet types you’ll find in all sportsbooks.

Tennis Handicap

The tennis spread (or handicap) revolves around the game difference between the two players at the end of the match. For instance, if a player wins with a game score of 6-3, 6-3, he has a six-game difference over his opponent, which means he covered the -5.5 handicap. It gets a little trickier in scenarios with three (or more) sets, but you shouldn’t have any trouble if you just add the difference in games for each set.

You’ll usually find the handicap line for each match, which will come with close to even odds, and some sportsbooks will also offer alternative spreads. There’s even a set handicap option, which mostly applies to men’s Grand Slam matches. You can bet on one favorite to win by a -1.5 set handicap and get paid if he wins 3-1 or 3-0.

Tennis Moneylines

The moneyline is a standard bet type in all sports, and it’s no different in tennis, as you basically choose which player will win the game. Moneyline bets are usually the best option if you want to back an underdog pick, and they also make for decent parlay pieces if you stack a few strong favorites together.

It’s important to discuss the case of an injury as the game is going on. Most sportsbooks will push both sides of the moneyline if a player withdraws due to injury, but you should always check the terms and conditions of the tennis betting site you play on.

Total Games Betting

Totals are another way to approach tennis betting when you’re dealing with two evenly matched players. If you expect a close matchup, you can wager on the “over” and get paid if the total number of games exceeds the line you bet on.

Betting on the tennis over is a great pick if one (or both) player is an excellent server. In that case, the game will likely reach at least one tiebreak, which is worth 13 games in the totals. Another useful totals bet is the “under” when you expect a favorite to dominate the opponent.

Keep in mind that five-set games will have much higher totals lines since a minimum of three sets need to be played.

Prop Wagers

Prop bets aren’t as common in tennis, but you can still find some great value picks in specific instances. For example, a strong server is likely to go “over” his total aces, but you might want to choose the “under” if he’s facing a particularly capable defender.

Similarly, a player who struggles with their first – and even second – is much more prone to breaks, so you should probably target this prop.

There are also some exciting special props, like how much time the first set will last. This is especially useful if you know one player will go into the game guns blazing while the other takes a while to get going.

Tennis Live Betting

You could argue that live betting on tennis is a whole other sport. The live odds in tennis games can drastically change within seconds, so you need to be alert and watch for any momentum swings. If there are any signs of a player slowing down or gaining confidence in their game, it might be time to capitalize on it.

Just make sure you play on a sportsbook that gives you adequate live coverage. You want access to several different markets and a live tracker for the game. On top of these, if you can find live streaming of the match, you’ll be able to see for yourself how it’s going before you commit to a live bet.

Futures Betting

Tennis has several future bet categories, where you can wager on how far you think a player will run in a tournament. The most popular bet is the outright winner, but you can also wager whether a place will reach a certain round, or you can choose the “double chance” winner if your sportsbook offers it.

It’s important to not just focus on the names when placing future bets. Check out each player’s recent form on the particular surface and try to find reports on whether they’re struggling with any minor injuries, which may affect their performance in the later rounds.

Complete History of Tennis

Tennis originated in France during the Middle Ages, but it took a few more centuries before it got its official name. The modern version of the game was part of the family of field games in late 19th-century England and was mostly reserved for the elite.

That’s also around the time the first major tournament (or Grand Slam, as we call it today), Wimbledon was established. The first official tournament, held in 1877, helped grow the sport’s popularity.

Soon, more tournaments took place around the world, including the US Open in 1881 and the French Open (aka Roland Garros) in 1891. The latest addition to the group was the Australian Open in 1905. Around that time, tennis even became an Olympic sport in the first modern Games in 1896, but was axed between 1924 and 1988.

Around the late 1960s was when tennis became a true professional sport for all people with the establishment of the Open Era. This meant any player from any country could compete in any tournament worldwide.

That’s around the time the first legendary names in tennis started to pop up. The likes of Roy Emerson and Rod Laver were dominating the men’s side, while the legendary Margaret Court reigned supreme among women players.

As the decades went on, the men’s tournaments were dominated by several different players, including Björn Borg and Pete Sampras. In the modern-day game, three names reign supreme and are in contention for the greatest of all time: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

Women’s tennis has seen some incredible athletes, like Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, and Martina Navratilova. The late 1980s and 1990s saw a dominant Steffi Graff, before she passed the torch to Serena Williams in the early 2000s.

Tennis Players to Follow

There are literally hundreds of top-level players on both the ATP and WTA tour, but we’ll take a look at a few notable names to keep on your watchlist.

ATP Tour

It’s only fair to start with arguably the GOAT of the sport (at least according to the numbers), Novak Djokovic. He has the most Grand Slam wins and has been going strong for almost two decades without any signs of stopping. However, he has recently found his match in the face of two young talents, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz is dubbed by many as the next “Rafa Nadal”, and is a complete tennis player with little to no flaws in his game. He became popular as a clay specialist, but neither of his first two Grand Slam wins came on the Philippe-Chartrier court.

Sinner has improved both his physical and mental game tremendously over the past few years and is now a force to be reckoned with. His first (of probably many) Grand Slam win came in the 2024 Australian Open, where he pulled off an insane comeback victory over Daniil Medvedev.

WTA Tour

The WTA Tour currently has a clear no.1 in Iga Świątek. The Pole has a dominant style that’s very hard to match against, and she seems unstoppable in many situations. However, she did run into issues with her mental game and form for a while, but she seems to have overcome it and is thriving again.

Tailing the Polish superstar is Aryna Sabalenka, a Belarusian player with tremendous power thanks to her size. She’s basically unmatched in terms of serve and groundstroke power and has recently overcome her issues with confidence to conquer the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024.

Other notable names on the tour include the young but formidable Coco Gauff, who won her maiden US Open in 2023 and will look to maintain her spot at the top.

Tennis Betting News

Tennis Betting FAQs

How to bet on tennis for beginners?

To start betting on tennis as a beginner, you’ll need to sign up with a reputable sportsbook that offers tennis odds. You should also find a betting strategy and type that works for you, study every matchup, and consider all parameters that might affect your bet.

What is the best tennis betting strategy?

There’s no single “best” strategy, but you can stick to the moneyline when you’re starting out. At the end of the day, each player just wants to win and doesn’t really care about covering their handicap or going over the total game line.

When does the tennis betting season start?

You can start betting on tennis from the first tournament in early January, all the way up to the ATP and WTA Finals in November.

Can bets be made during the preseason?

As long as your sportsbook offers odds, you can bet on any tennis game you want, even during preseason. But the oddsmakers will usually wait to publish their odds to make sure players aren’t suffering from any injuries.

What is the single biggest tennis betting event of the year?

Tennis betting receives a lot more action during the four Grand Slam tournaments every year. These are the Australian Open in January, the French Open in May-June, Wimbledon in July, and the US Open in August-September.