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Expert Guide to Tennis Betting in the US

tennis betting

Is tennis betting worth it? Beginners to tennis or sports wagering often assume that tennis betting is only about the four Grand Slams in Australia, France, England, and the US. However, the sport features hundreds of tournaments and matches that take place throughout the year and offers a constant stream of betting options. 

With the right knowledge and strategy, you can capitalize on the sport’s unique betting opportunities and unlock significant profits. In this article, we will explain how tennis betting works. Learn how to read markets, and practical strategies for betting on tennis matches. Let’s go!

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Learn about tennis betting in the US.
  • Uncover strategies to maximize your tennis bets.
  • Discover legal online tennis betting states in the US.

Online Tennis Betting in the US

Online tennis betting is legal in the US, but availability varies by state. Since the Supreme Court repealed the federal ban on sports betting in 2018, individual states have been given the power to regulate and license online sportsbooks. 

Thanks to the Grand Slams, ATP, and WTA Tours, tennis betting has gained substantial popularity in the US. As a result, you will find various mobile sportsbooks offering online tennis betting in states where online sports betting is legal.

These states include:

  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut 
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire 
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania 
  • Rhode Island
  • Tennessee
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington, DC
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

How Do You Bet on Tennis?

When I placed my first Wimbledon wager in 2018, there were several things about tennis betting that I didn’t know then and have had to pick up along the way. Now, I am excited to share my knowledge with you, here are the steps to safely and successfully start betting on tennis. 

Step 1: Understand Tennis Odds

Tennis betting odds reflect the probability of an event and the amount you can win if your bet is successful. The concept is easy to grasp. Higher tennis match odds mean bigger payouts but lower winning chances. The higher the odds, the less likely the event is to occur.

Sportsbooks use three different formats to display tennis and other sports odds:

  • American or Moneyline: Uses + or – signs to indicate probability:
    • Favorites (-) show the amount needed to bet $100 (e.g., 300).
    • Underdogs (+) show a potential profit from a $100 wager (e.g., +150).
  • Decimal: Odds start at 1.01+ and indicate the total returns on a winning bet. 
  • Fractional: Favorites have a lower numerator, while underdogs (e.g., 2/5) have a higher numerator (e.g., 3/2):
    • 1st number shows how much you will win.
    • 2nd number indicates how much you need to wager.

Step 2: Choose a Tennis Betting Site

To start placing tennis bets online, you need to sign up with a sportsbook. It is vital to go for a legitimate and trustworthy tennis betting site to have a seamless and secure betting experience. Here are some of the factors to check when selecting a tennis sportsbook:

  • Licensing and regulation
  • Competitive tennis odds and markets 
  • User-friendly interface
  • Reliable customer support 
  • Fast and secure deposit and withdrawal options
  • Live streaming and in-play betting

Fortunately, virtually all licensed bookmakers in the US have these requirements. Some of my recommended tennis betting apps include:

Depending on your state, one or more of these mobile wagering sites should be available in your jurisdiction, provided it’s a legal sports betting state.

Step 3: Place Your Bets

After signing up and verifying your account, follow these simple steps to start wagering on tennis matches.

  • Deposit funds via any payment method on the bookie’s cashier page
  • Select tennis among the listed sports
  • Find your desired match/event
  • Choose bet type and input your stake
  • Review and place your bet

Different Types of Tennis Bets

Tennis offers various betting options. Whether you are interested in simple, high-risk, or low-odds wagers, tennis betting has something for everyone. Here are some of the most popular tennis bets. 

Match Betting

Match betting simply involves wagering on the outcome of a tennis match. There are several bet types you can consider here:

  • Match Winner: Bet on which player or players (in the case of doubles) you think will win the game. E.g., Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal, Djokovic to win.
  • Correct Score: This market allows you to predict the exact set score of a tennis game. 

Example: Australian Open Semi-Final (Best of 5) — Rafael Nadal vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas:

  • Nadal – 3-0, 3-1, 3-2
  • Tsitsipas – 3,0, 3-1, 3-2

Set Betting Tennis

You can predict the exact set score or specific set outcomes in a tennis match. Unlike match betting, which focuses on the overall winner, set betting involves wagering on individual set results. Common set bet types include:

  • Set Winner: Bet on the player to win a specific set.
    E.g., for Serena Williams vs Ashleigh Barty, Williams to win Set 2.
  • First Set Winner: Bet on the winner of the first set. For instance, Djokovic to win first set.
  • Set Handicap: You can also wager on a player to win with a set handicap.
    E.g., Djokovic -1.5 sets vs Nadal.
  • Set Over/Under: Predict the total number of sets in the game 

Tennis Handicap Betting 

Similar to point spread in basketball or football, tennis handicaps level the playing field. Oddsmakers assign advantages or disadvantages to players in terms of games or sets to create more competitive lines. 

Example 1:

  • In a matchup between Serena Williams and a lower-ranked opponent
  • Williams might be assigned a -3.5 game handicap or -1 set handicap, meaning she must win by at least 4 games or two sets to cover.
  • The underdog must also stay within the assigned margin to give a winning bet.

Example 2:

  • Rafael Nadal -4.5 vs. Alexander Zverev
  • Nadal must win at least five more games than Zverev to cover
  • Zverev covers if he wins or loses by 4 games or fewer

What Does +1.5 Mean In Tennis Betting?

Like baseball’s run line, set spreads are usually set at +1.5 for underdog in tennis. When a player has a +1.5 set handicap, they can win the match or lose by 1 set. They cover the bet if they win or lose in 3 sets (e.g., 6-4, 4-6, 6-4). The favorite must win by two sets (6-4, 6-2) for the handicap bet to lose.

Example: Novak Djokovic -1.5 Daniil Medvedev +1.5

  • If you bet on Djokovic-1.5 sets, and he wins in straight sets (e.g., 6-4, 6-3, 6-2), you win.
  • If Medvedev wins at least one set, you lose.
  • If you bet on Medvedev +1.5 sets, and he wins or loses by 1 set, you win.

Tennis Spread Betting

In tennis spread betting, you wager on the margin of victory in games or sets rather than the winner or loser. Bookmakers set the spread, and you decide whether the favorite will win by more than the spread (buy) or the underdog will lose by less than the spread (sell).

Example: Game spread

  • Iga Swiatek (-5.5 games) vs. Karolina Pliskova (+5.5 games)
    • Buy: Swiatek wins by 6 or more games (e.g., 6-2, 6-3)
    • Sell: Pliskova loses by 5 games or fewer (e.g., 6-4, 7-5)

Example: Total sets 

  • Rublev vs. Khavhanov: Total Sets over/under 3.5
    • Buy: Over 3.5 sets (e.g., 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3)
    • Sell: Under 3.5 sets (e.g., 6-2, 6-3)

Props

Proposition markets offer exciting alternatives to traditional match-winner bets. You can wager on various aspects of a tennis game, such as:

  • First Game Winner: Who wins the opening game?
  • Aces Over/Under: Bet on the total number of aces served
  • Total Points Won: Over/under on total points won by a player
  • Fastest Serve: Who records the fastest serve in the match?
  • First Set Duration: Over/under the time taken to complete the first set.

Keep in mind that prop bets may vary across sportsbooks. Some offer them exclusively in big tournaments or games, while some do not feature them at all.

Futures

As its name implies, a futures bet, or outright bet, involves wagering on the outcome of a future event, usually a tournament or season-long competition. In tennis, a futures bet could be betting on a player to win a specific tournament (e.g., Wimbledon, US Open)

You can also bet on a player to win the year-end No. 1 ranking or ATP/WTA Player of the Year. Each player is assigned odds indicating their likelihood of winning the tournament and potential payout.

Example: The 2025 men’s US futures open odds are listed as follows:

  • Jannik Sinner +200
  • Carlos Alcaraz +200
  • Novak Djokovic +250
  • Alexander Zverev +800
  • Danili Medvedev +1400

Parlays

A parlay bet combines multiple bets into one and requires all selections to win to give you a payout. Your tennis parlay can consist of the same bet types or different ones, like these examples below:

Example — Parlay 1: Match Winners

  • Game 1: Djokovic to beat Nadal
  • Game 2: Medvedev to beat Tsitsipas

Example — Parlay 2: Game Spreads

  • Swiatek – 3.5 games vs. Sabalenka
  • Djokovic -2.5 games vs. Nadal

Example — Parlay 3: Mixed

  • Swiatek to win Set 1 vs Sabalenka
  • Medvedev +1.5 games vs Tsitsipas 
  • Djokovic to beat Nadal

What Is the Safest Bet in Tennis?

While no bet is completely risk-free, wagering on certain tennis betting markets and strategies can minimize risk. 

If you are on a limited budget, placing a match or moneyline bet on strong favorites offers you a high probability of winning.

However, moneyline bets require you to research player form, head-to-head records, weather, and surface conditions to make informed decisions. The bet also pays less if you are wagering on the favorite. You can also go for spread bets, as it provides better odds for favorites.

Over/Under bets are another recommended option because they are less independent of individual player performance and are more predictable.

Tennis betting can be profitable if you understand the game, manage risk, and employ effective strategies like the ones mentioned later in this guide. 

Live Tennis Betting

Live betting or in-play betting allows you to wager on tennis matches after the game has begun. Unlike pre-match betting, live bets are placed during the match rather than before.

You can place live bets on various markets, such as point winner, game-winner, and set winner. However, remember that tennis is a fast-paced action with rapid-fire point changes, so you need to be able to react quickly to changing odds and scores.

Example: The electrifying Wimbledon final matchup between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic provided several live betting opportunities.

  • Initially, I wagered on Djokovic to secure the win, given his impressive record.
  • However, during the match, I noticed how Djokovic struggled with Alcaraz’s aggressive serving, and his hampered movements were clearly affected by his recent meniscus surgery.
  • I reassessed the match dynamics and quickly adjusted my live bets to favor Alcaraz.
  • He won, and I got a nice payout, covering my initial pre-match bet loss.

Major Tennis Events to Bet On

The tennis calendar features a hierarchical structure of tournaments for both male and female players. These tournaments are ranked based on prestige, prize money, and points. Here are the most popular tennis events to bet on.

Grand Slam Tournaments

The four Grand Slam tournaments are the biggest events in tennis, and they offer the widest range of betting options:

  1. Wimbledon
  2. US Open
  3. French Open
  4. Australien Open

Wimbledon 

Founded in 1877, Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious Grand Slam tournament. The event is held annually in London, England, from late June to early July. It usually features the world’s top players on its iconic grass courts. Roger Federer is the most successful player in Wimbledon history, with eight titles.

With the tournament’s global audience, Wimbledon betting is one of the most popular betting markets worldwide. 

US Open

The US Open was established in 1881 as the US National Championship. As the curtain closer to the Grand Slam season, the tournament usually occurs between late August and early September every year. The US Open characterizes the vibrant energy of the host city, New York, and attracts the best tennis players in the world.

Common US Open betting markets include outright winner, finalist, and to-win quarter.

French Open

The French Open, also known as Roland Garros, dates back to 1891. The tournament is the only one played on clay courts, signifying its uniqueness in the tennis world. Since clay is considered to be challenging to play on, this surface demands skill, strategy, and endurance, making the French Open a true test of tennis excellence.

Roland Garros betting outright winner favorite is Rafael Nadal thanks to his dominance in the tournament (14 record titles).

Australian Open

The first big tournament of the year, the Australian Open, usually starts in the middle of January and continues for two weeks. The tournament dates back to 1905 and has been held at Melbourne Park since 1988. The tournament is contested on hard courts and has been Djokovic’s stronghold, with ten titles won between 2008 and now.

Popular Australian Open betting markets include futures, fastest serve, game handicap, and match winner.

ATP and WTA Tours

The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tours provide a platform for top players to compete and bettors to wager on. These tours are essential to the tennis betting calendar, as they offer a consistent stream of high-stakes tournaments and matches.

  • The ATP Tour, featuring 68 tournaments, showcases the world’s best male players, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer.
  • Similarly, the WTA Tour features 55 tournaments and highlights the talents of top female players like Serena Williams, Ashleigh Barty, and Naomi Osaka.

Both tours are played in a group stage or round/robin format, and conclude with the ATP Finals and WTA Finals.

Tennis Betting Rules

Like other sports, there are vital rules and regulations governing tennis betting. Here are some of the popular ones across various sportsbooks. 

🎾 General Rules:

  • Match abandonment: If a match is abandoned, all bets are void unless the outcome is already determined.
  • Player withdrawal: All bets are void if a player withdraws before a match.
  • Change of surface: Bets stand regardless of surface changes.
  • Delay or postponement: Bets stand if the match is delayed or postponed, unless otherwise stated.

🎾 Specific Bet Rules:

  • Walkover rules: If a player wins by walkover, set betting and handicap bets are void.
  • Set betting: Bets are void if the match is not completed or the number of sets changes.
  • Game handicap: Bets are void if the match is not completed.
  • Tie-break: In tie-breaks, the player winning the tie-break wins the set.

🎾 Live Betting Rules:

  • Live betting: Bets are accepted in real-time, but may be delayed or rejected due to market suspension.
  • Live score updates: Live scores may not reflect the current score; bets are settled based on official scores.

Popular Tennis Betting Systems

There are several betting systems you can adopt to improve your tennis betting strategy. Each has its unique approach and potential benefits. Let’s look at some of them below:

  • Martingale System: It involves doubling your bets after each loss and returning to your original bet when you win. In that case:
    • If you bet $3 and lose, your next bet stake on any other market should be $6.
    • If you lose again, you bet $12. You keep doubling until you secure a win, then you return to $3.
  • Fibonacci System: Here, you increase your tennis bet amounts according to the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc). You start by choosing the base stake (first bet amount) and then follow the sequence.
  • Paroli: Double bets after each win. E.g., bet on Federer to win each set of Wimbledon.
    • If you bet $10 on the first set, and he wins, you double your bet ($20) for the next set.
  • D’Alembert: You increase or decrease your bets by fixed amounts after a win or loss.
    • Let’s say $2 is your fixed unit value.
    • If you bet $10 and win, you increase it to $12. Decrease to $8 after the loss.

Tennis Betting Strategies I Live By

To take your tennis betting from amateur to pro, you need to develop a working strategy that combines research with risk management and bankroll optimization. I shared some of my top tips below.

Research Head-to-Head Stats

Head-to-head stats can offer valuable insights when predicting tennis match winners. This is because individual playing styles significantly influence tennis match outcomes. For instance, a player may dominate on clay (4-0) but struggle on hard courts (1-5) against the same opponent.

You should also consider how one player has consistently beaten the other in recent winnings.

Value Betting

Identify profitable opportunities by comparing your calculated probabilities with bookmakers’ odds. In the same vein, compare odds across multiple sportsbooks to get the best value for your tennis picks. This strategy can help you generate profits in the long run.

Bet on Favorites in Slams

The Grand Slam stage is where tennis elites shine. The events are characterized by limited upsets and consistent dominance by top-ranked players. As such, wager more on heavy favorites while betting on the tournaments.

Manage your Bankroll

Managing your bankroll is very essential for a healthy betting balance. Set a realistic budget to decide the total amount you spend on your tennis betting activity, even if you use a system. You should also stick to your bet and avoid chasing losses.

To maximize your tennis bets, combine these strategies with bonuses from top-notch legitimate sports betting sites. A good tennis betting bonus can provide free bets and increase potential winnings.

So, Are You Ready for Some Tennis Betting Tonight?

Tennis betting in the US offers an exciting way to enjoy the sport. With a wide variety of tournaments and betting markets, the possibilities are endless. Begin your tennis betting journey today by signing up at a legitimate US sportsbook. Employ the strategies contained in this guide to maximize your winnings. Remember to set realistic limits and bet responsibly.

Did you know that online tools can elevate your betting experience? Check out our free, exclusive betting tools now.

Frequently Asked Questions Tennis Betting

What is a popular way to bet on tennis?

Predicting the outright winner of a match is a favorite bet among both novice and savvy bettors. This straightforward wager involves choosing which player will win the match.

What are tennis markets should I consider?

Common tennis markets include betting on the outright winner, the number of games to win a set, and set betting. Online sportsbooks typically offer these in their sports offering.

How can I make accurate predictions in tennis betting?

Making accurate predictions in tennis betting involves thorough research and analysis. Consider factors such as player form, head-to-head records, surface preferences, and injury reports. Read our comprehensive guide to betting on tennis for valuable insights and expert tips to help you make informed predictions.

Where can I find the best online sportsbooks for tennis betting?

The best betting sites for tennis bets offer various tennis markets, competitive odds, and user-friendly platforms. Look for reputable bookies with positive reviews, secure transactions, and excellent customer support, such as DraftKings or BetMGM.

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