There are a number of different ways to bet on a sport where huge mismatches occur on a daily basis and, while some prefer to concentrate on matches, others will only be interested in finding the winner of a tournament.
Outright Betting
An outright bet, on the tournament winner or each-way, can prove popular with those who are looking to make decent money for a relatively minimal outlay.
Winners at double-figure prices are common while treble-figured priced winners are naturally harder to find but not as infrequent as you might think.
There are various factors involved in finding a winner of a tournament but arguably the most important thing to consider is the draw.
Upsets typically occur more often in lower grades so it’s worth analysing the draw bracket to see if a player has a more comfortable route to the final than the odds imply.
Other factors to consider include recent form, previous results at the specific tournament, and motivation.
The biggest names target the biggest tournaments and rarely bring their A-game on lesser stages. They might still prove too good but they can often be taken on.
Match Betting
Match betting is a simple bet on who will prevail in a head-to-head encounter.
It tends to be worth focusing on closely-matched heats instead of searching for a 1-20 shot to get turned over. Shocks do occur but they are difficult to find.
Look out for head-to-head records and recent results. Is a player performing at a level they will struggle to maintain when they face a rival who can take them out of their comfort zone?
Different tennis players have different styles. A player who serves well holds a significant advantage over a poor returner, while excellent defenders can neutralise a gung-ho approach.
Handicap Betting
Betting on the handicap is simple, if you back Player A -5.5 games, and he wins by six games, the bet is a winner. Alternatively, back Player B +4.5 games and the bet will win if he loses by four games or fewer.
Plenty of matches, particularly in the early rounds of Grand Slams, often see a high-profile player taking on a lesser opponent.
The favourite may well be hard to beat but an underdog with a never-say-die attitude can prove tough to put away and certain players can shy away from a scrap.
Conversely, some of the best players are exactly that because they refuse to take their foot off the gas – Rafael Nadal’s bloodless displays at the French Open are a classic example.
Do the maths when considering a handicap bet. The difference between giving away 3.5 games or 4.5 games could easily be the difference between backing a winner or a loser.
Total Games
Like a handicap bet, a bet on the total games in a match can offer an interest in even the most one-sided of mismatches.
A top player can make short work of a lesser player, but that’s not always the case, while it’s reasonable to expect those who are evenly-matched to play a long match, although the odds will reflect that.
You can find all the latest odds on tennis matches and tournaments from around the world on the MansionBet Tennis page.