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Choice is important when selecting a bookmaker for any sport and tennis is no exception. Many bettors are happy with outright match and tournament betting but a growing proportion of punters want to go a little deeper.
There is scope for many additional side markets in tennis but who gives us the best coverage?
It’s the established brands who really score here and in many cases, the bookie who scores best are Betway. Along with match bets including set score and match score, Betway can offer dozens of additional options relating to Player Performance – how many points will Player A score in the first set, second set, etc etc.
Betway are also one of the best bookmakers around when it comes to live betting so we can add in a host of in-play bets to those ante post equivalents.
Ladbrokes are another established brand who take tennis very seriously when it comes to choice of markets. They may have been around for decades but they are swift to move with the times and usually score heavily when it comes to a range of betting options.
During the major tennis tournaments – French Open, Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open – Ladbrokes had more markets than most and just behind were Coral. Ladbrokes and Coral are part of the same group in the present day and while their offerings aren’t always identical, they tend to be close in terms of market selection.
William Hill, Unibet and 888Sport are also strong while, from the newer brands on the market, we suggest taking a look at Winner Sports, 10Bet and EnergyBet.
Tennis tournaments can be gruelling affairs and while we’re involving athletes at the peak of their careers, the occasional retirement is inevitable. We should therefore take time to consider what individual sportsbooks rules are in regards to winning or returned bets when retirements happen.
Key Terms : New Customers only; Min. deposit £15; Bonus amount 50% of deposit up to £50; Wager deposit and bonus 8x within 30 days; 4/5 Min. single odds or 2/5 min. acca selection odds; Max. stake contribution equal to the initial bonus; Certain bet types and payment methods excluded; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+.
If you have an account with a sportsbook that you exclusively use for tennis betting then check this point with them. In the meantime, we recommend the following bookies as they will declare a match void if it isn’t completed for whatever reason:
In addition, Betway will declare a match void if it isn’t finished as long as no player has been disqualified.
Now we’ve found a good choice of sportsbooks, let’s take a look at the most popular markets among the tennis betting community.
This is the most simple bet of all and the object here is to decide which of the two players is going to win the match. One of the reasons why tennis is so popular among serious punters lies in the fact that there are only two possible outcomes. There is no scope for the draw so it’s simply a case of picking between the two competitors on either side of the net.
There are few surprises in tennis so a good majority of favourites can come through but do all your usual research before committing to a stake. This should include current form and head to head results between the two players involved.
In tennis, the first player to six games wins the set, unless, the scores are tied at 5-5. In that case, it would be the first player to win by two clear games but if the score is level at 6-6, a tie breaker comes into play.
This means that there are a number of permutations in regards to Set Score and this has become a very popular market for tennis bettors. Anything from 6-0 to 7-6 is on the table and there are some excellent odds available for those who can make correct predictions.
Analysis of form is naturally important but the head to head stats can be really vital here. Look at recent matches between the two to see whether they are close affairs or whether one player tends to win easily. This type of research can then help to unlock profits in the Set Score betting.
Total games is another popular bet and it’s also self-explanatory. Here, we are looking to bet on the number of games that a set will hold. It takes a minimum of six games to win a set while at the top end of the scale, thirteen games will be required if there is a tie breaker involved.
Sportsbooks will therefore set a series of lines, starting at 6.5 and finishing at 12.5. It’s your job as the bettor to pick a line and decide whether to bet over or under it.
Once again, use form and head to head statistics and you can help swing the odds in your favour here.
Tennis matches can be played over a number of hours but the action is fast paced so it makes this a perfect sport for the live betting markets. All of the usual options should be available including match result, set score and the other popular side bets that we’ve covered in this section.
Live betting also gives an option to bet on markets that aren’t available in the ante post equivalents. This would include next set winner and possibly next point if you’re quick enough to react.
If you are intending to bet in the live markets then you need a bookmaker who supports this with choice of options and great odds. Any of the sportsbooks we’ve listed above should match your needs and if you are in any doubt, find your own bookie’s homepage, click on the live betting tab and see how many tennis markets and matches come up.
Many bookmakers also back up their in play service with live streaming. This is a huge benefit if you’re betting on tennis matches that aren’t picked up by the television cameras. The big broadcasters are always likely to show the Major events but the more obscure tournaments on the ATP and WTA Tours are disappearing from the mainstream providers. Even Netflix have picked up some tennis but if you don’t want any additional subscriptions, check out free live streaming at your bookie.
Unibet and Betway are particularly strong in this area but once again, any of the bookmakers named in this section should offer live streaming options. Check on the requirements for watching as some operators ask you to bet on the match in question while others are happy for you just to have a funded account.