| Betting Basics for Tennis | | | | advantage of having more than one entrant |
| | | | that can win for them. For example, the top |
| After learning about betting point spreads, | | | | 20 players going into a tournament might be |
| our favorite newbie bettor Emily wanted to | | | | listed with their own individual odds while |
| know about betting tennis. There are no point | | | | the rest of the players are grouped together. |
| spreads in tennis because there is no | | | | |
| meaningful way to measure how much a tennis | | | | Some sportsbooks will also allow you to bet |
| player wins or loses by. In tennis, all that | | | | futures on the four major major tournaments, |
| really matters is who wins and loses the | | | | which is yet another way you can "Bet to Win" |
| match, and that's where money line wagering | | | | that can offer you appealing odds because you |
| comes into play. Following are tips on | | | | are betting far in advance of when the event |
| understanding tennis odds and betting tennis | | | | takes place. For example, betting on the 2006 |
| matches. | | | | Australian Open now might get you much better |
| | | | value on Serena, who may be 10/1 at this |
| For example, Emily's favorite tennis player | | | | moment but dip to 6/1 closer to the event if |
| Serena Williams wins a majority of her | | | | she is on fire. For more information on the |
| matches. The chances of winning for Serena's | | | | value of betting golf futures, read How |
| opponent, let's say the 102nd-ranked player | | | | Future Bets Can Pay Off. |
| in the world, would be less than 50-50 for | | | | |
| this very reason. | | | | Before placing a future bet or any bet on any |
| | | | tennis player, it's important to find out |
| Thus, sportsbooks would make bettors wager | | | | their strengths and weaknesses. Some tennis |
| significantly more money on Serena than her | | | | players perform better on different surfaces, |
| opponent because of the disproportionate | | | | and it must be noted that the French Open is |
| likelihood of Serena winning the match. | | | | played on clay and Wimbledon on grass. |
| | | | Playing on clay was the biggest weakness for |
| In the case of Serena Williams versus an | | | | Pete Sampras, arguably the best tennis player |
| overmatched opponent, a reasonable money line | | | | ever. He won 7 Wimbledon titles but never |
| would require Serena bettors to risk $400 to | | | | brought home a French championship. |
| win $100; while a $100 bet on her opponent | | | | Fortunately for Sampras, he also performed |
| would win $360. | | | | well on a hardcourt surface (the most |
| | | | common), where he earned the other half of |
| Here's how the money line would be listed: | | | | his 14 career Grand Slam tournament wins. |
| Serena Williams -400 / #102 Ranked Opponent | | | | |
| +360 | | | | Other possibilities for betting tennis |
| | | | include proposition bets on the number of |
| Every $400 bet on Serena nets a $100 profit | | | | sets a match lasts. There are several |
| if she wins (plus the return of the $400 | | | | advantages to betting at elite online |
| risked). If her opponent pulls off the upset, | | | | sportsbooks but the very best will give you |
| $100 bet on the underdog would profit $360 | | | | the most wagering opportunities, so it's a |
| (plus the return of the $100 risked). For | | | | good idea to shop around and find out what |
| more information on how this works, make sure | | | | everybody has to offer. |
| to check out Reading and Understanding Money | | | | |
| Lines. | | | | If you are a knowledgeable tennis fan who has |
| | | | a good feel about how a match will likely |
| Another popular way of betting tennis is | | | | turn out, then you should most definitely |
| picking the winner of each tournament before | | | | trust your insights and use them to find |
| it starts. In fact, "Betting to Win" an | | | | strong bets. For those of you with less |
| outcome event like Wimbledon is the most | | | | experience, several sports web sites have |
| common way to wager on tennis. Since tennis | | | | power rankings for players which should give |
| has multiple tournaments over the course of a | | | | you a good idea of who's hot on the tennis |
| year, "Betting to Win" obviously offers | | | | court and who's not. Of course it's up to you |
| numerous wagering opportunities. It is very | | | | to decide which driver you want to bet on, |
| important to note that not all the | | | | but the more you learn about tennis, the more |
| competitors in a tennis tournament may be | | | | prepared you will be when placing your bet. |
| listed, so another tennis betting option is a | | | | Hopefully now you understand the basics of |
| "field" bet which includes all other | | | | betting tennis and how tennis odds work! |
| competitors not listed. | | | | |
| | | | provides sports betting rules, basics, |
| The tennis odds on a "field" bet are | | | | advice, systems, and strategy, online for |
| typically comparable to a bet on the favorite | | | | free, covering NFL Football, NCAA college |
| in order to protect sportsbooks from taking a | | | | basketball, NBA, pro MLB baseball wagering |
| big hit if a major upset occurs. In exchange | | | | from gambling experts. |
| for a lesser payout, field bettors gain the | | | | |