Most Brits think that tennis only exists for two week per year – the Wimbledon fortnight! However, most UK-based tennis fans are well aware that tennis is a global, all-year-round game. If you’re a tennis expert, then why not put your knowledge to use and learn how to bet on tennis?
This page will teach you how to bet on tennis online, with examples on how to bet on tennis matches, alternative to ‘select the winner’ bets such as how to bet on tennis over/under, and how to bet on tennis live so you can an extra layer of thrill to any tennis match that you happen to be watching.
Tennis, along with golf, is probably the most popular non-team sport played in the UK and other corners of the world. It is also a rarity in that there is almost equal interest in men’s and women’s play. There are a huge amount of global tennis competitions as pro tennis players seek to rise through the ranks and earn their living.
The top four global competitions are the tennis majors – the annual tournaments in the UK, US, Australia and France. Beyond that there are ‘tours’ that take place all over the world, with the two leading ones being organised by the ATP (mens) and WTA (womens). Beyond that, there are also tournaments for seniors, schoolboys/girls and amateurs. The annual tennis calendar is so full that it’s unthinkable that there not a tennis match to bet on, any day of the year!
You can of course place outright bets through betting sites in the UK – wagers on players to win specific tournaments. When betting on a tennis match, the usual practice is to bet on one player (or doubles pair) to win, but there are plenty of other bets too, as follows:
The above is really just the tip of a bowl of strawberries and cream when it comes to betting on tennis. You will, however, find that the more high profile a match, the more betting options that there will be to bet upon.
So, how to bet on tennis online is the question. It’s a question we are going to answer with an example of a tennis bet at the popular UK betting site, bet365. We are going to bet on the UK’s Andy Murray winning his first match at the 2023 Wimbledon tournament. First, we find the match among bet365’s tennis options, as follows:
Ryan Peniston is 7.00 to win while Murray is only 1.10. The ’69>’ refers to all the other bets that are available on this match. We are going to back Murray to win, so we click on the ‘1.10’ odds to transfer that bet to our betslip, which you can see below.
We’re pretty confident of a Murray win, so we have set our stake to £5, which will return £5.50 if the Scot is successful. To complete the placement of our wager we just need to click the ‘place bet’ button. Don’t forget that if calculating returns from your bets leaves you confused, we can offer a range of handy bet calculators.
Although there are countless types of bets in tennis, placing any kind of bet is basically the same – click on the odds to add the bet to your bet slip, then select your stake. If you want to place any kind of multiple such as a double or treble, then add your selections and then set your stake.
Tennis is one sport that is ideally suited to live betting, or betting in-play. If you are watching a game, then you might be persuaded to bet on a player or outcome depending upon the the current situation. For example, a leading player may be visibly wilting, or a player who was behind is now becoming the dominant force in the match.
There are plenty of options for you should you wish to bet on tennis live, such as the winner of the next set, the next player to break serve or the next player to double fault. Why not take a look at the betting options at a UK online bookmaker for a live game, and then see how your expert tennis knowledge may help you turn a profit once you’ve learned how to bet on tennis live.
Finding value when you’re learning how to bet on tennis online is the key to your success. Value betting represents the true probability of an outcome against the odds given.
Say that Novac Djokovic is 5/6 to win a tennis match. That’s a 6 out of 11 chance of winning, or 54.5 percent (with decimal odds you just divide one by the odds, so 1 / 1.833 = 54.5 percent). The key aspect here is whether you think that Djokovic has a less than 54.5 percent chance of winning, in which case you would bet on his opponent.
There is never any key secret of how to bet on tennis and win, because once you've understood how to bet on tennis online, there is never any cast-iron method of guaranteeing winning. However, we have asked around our betting experts, and they have come up with the following tips that, if followed, have the best chance of increasing your chances of learning how to bet on tennis and win ... with a bit of luck!
Even if you think you’ve become an expert when it comes to learning how to bet on tennis online, there are still some double-faults that you need to avoid. Here are some mistakes that even seasoned tennis betting experts are prone to:
Tennis is a dynamic sport, and player form can fluctuate significantly. It is essential to analyse recent performance, fitness levels and how players perform on specific court surfaces before placing a bet. Neglecting these factors can lead to poor decision-making.
Head-to-head records between players can provide valuable insights into their match-ups. It is crucial to consider historical performance and how players have fared against each other in the past, especially in terms of playing style and court conditions.
Betting can be a roller-coaster ride, and it is common for bettors to try to recoup their losses by increasing their wagers. However, this can lead to impulsive and irrational decision-making, resulting in more significant losses. It is important to stick to a predetermined budget and avoid chasing losses.
As we’ve shown you, tennis offers a wide range of betting markets beyond just the match-winner. Exploring markets like set betting, total games, or handicap betting can provide alternative opportunities to find value and increase potential returns.
Different online bookmakers offer varying odds for tennis matches. Failing to compare odds across multiple platforms can result in missed opportunities for higher potential payouts. Taking the time to shop around for the best odds can significantly impact long-term profitability
Now that you have learned how to bet on tennis online in the UK, and how to bet on tennis live, you’ll want to learn where to bet on tennis! Fortunately, we can help you out there. All of the leading tennis betting sites will have a high number of markets and features, but not all bookies are the same. Our experts give a recommendation.
With this sport, that is none other than BetUK, not just because of the extensive tennis betting options but the depth in which they cover the ATP and WTA main and Challenger Tours. Their Acca Club accepts wagers from this sport as eligible and counting towards the weekly requirements. Other bookies we can recommend for tennis include 10bet, Grosvenor Sports and QuinnBet.
Now that you have understood a little more about how to bet on tennis, you should be soon calling ‘game, set and match’ over all your tennis betting endeavours. Is tennis easy to bet on? Sure it is! But learning how to bet on tennis and win takes a little more time and effort, and understanding how the sport works and how tennis betting works as a whole.
The best way to bet on tennis is to analyse the players, taking a look at the head-to-head records of match-ups, recent form and past results on the surface the players will be playing on. This is how to bet on tennis, and we wish you all the best … just remember to gamble responsibly.