Tennis betting adds to the thrills and excitement provided by the professional tennis circuit. Professional tennis players compete throughout the year so the tennis betting season is long and loaded with exciting possibilities. Tennis fans know their game, know the player statistics and tendencies and use that information in placing timely wagers. Tennis betting tends to be less complicated than team sports betting. Without team chemistry to consider, bettors can focus on the individual and the individual’s statistics to formulate the best wager.

Tennis betting should evaluate the 5 key areas that affect every match. Successful tennis betting starts with the bettor becoming familiar with the players. World rankings help, but it is important to know how players match up in head-to-head competition. These track records are available online and in print. It should include careful scrutiny of these one-on-one prior performances.

Professional tennis events are contested on either grass, clay, hard court or carpeted surfaces. Each surface affects the speed and style of play. Clay courts, such as used in the French Open, are the slowest of these surfaces. The grass at Wimbledon, is the most traditional surface, but is often irregular. Some professional players prefer slower surfaces, while other players have developed styles better suited for the quicker, faster-paced surfaces. When betting on tennis, the bettor should know the surface and the player’s record on that particular surface. Players with hard serves and power strokes usually dominate the hard decks while steady ground strokes and conditioning get good results on the slower surfaces.

When betting on tennis, the successful bettor does their research. Player profiles and records are updated at the conclusion of each match. Bettors must always know current trends and patterns. Using statistics in formulating a wager works. Successful tennis bettors know forced error trends, ratio of successful first serves, percentage of second serves won and other relevant statistics.

During the course of the year long tennis season, all players hit peaks and valleys. The grueling professional tennis season wears on even the most accomplished player. Some touring players weary during the course of the extensive travel. Winning tennis betting factors in all the current trends, all past performances and the player’s recent physical condition.

There are very few other betting opportunities where results are based on individual prowess and athleticism. Prudent tennis wagers are based on up-to-date statistics gathered by today’s excellent online information centers. The player’s physical condition reports are readily available. Your next successful wager could well ride on your ability to gather information and structure that input into the correct wager.

Tennis Betting Types

There are four types of tennis bets. The successful bettor will use the accumulated information and select the appropriate tennis betting type.

Match Bet

The match bet is the most preferred tennis bet. With each match bet, there is a favorite and an underdog. The handicapper established a betting line and the bettor makes his play.

For example, in a match between Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic on a grass surface, the match bet line is set as -150 Williams and +250 Ivanovic. Williams is a heavy favorite. Match bet lines reflect $100 events. So, if the bettor wagered $150 on Williams and Venus was victorious, the bettor would profit $100. On the other hand, if the bettor chose the underdog and wagered $100 on Ivanovic and Ana was victorious, the bettor would recoup the original $100 wager and collect the profit of $250.

Some gaming sites post odds lines on match bets. For example, Williams could be posted a 3/5 favorite and Ivanovic could be posted as an 8/5 underdog. With this line, the bettor can wager $50 on Williams to profit $30, or can bet $50 on Ivanovic to profit $80.

Experienced tennis experts always seek the upset. 2008 was marked by surprising upsets in both the Men’s and Women’s events. As the season unwound, young players hit their stride. Crowds warmed to the new vitality and these upstarts drew increased energy from newfound fan bases. The end-of-year rankings looked totally revamped from the beginning of the season. Along the way upset bettors had their day.

Set Betting

Sets betting is the second of the four tennis betting types. Sets betting is similar to an over-under football or basketball bet. The handicapper establishes a line and the bettor opts for over the sets line or under the sets line. In the Williams-Ivanovic match mentioned above, the handicapper might establish Williams as a -1.0 -200 favorite and Ivanovic as the + 0.5 + 275 underdog. If the bettor wagers $200 on Williams and Williams wins by more than 1.0 sets the profit is $100. If the bettor wagers $100 on Ivanovic and Ana wins the match or loses the match by less than 1.0 set, the bettor wins $275.

Games Betting

The third of the tennis betting types is called Games Betting. Games betting is interesting. Again using the Williams-Ivanovic match Games betting, the handicapper has established a line that reads Williams -2.0 -140, Ivanovic +2.0 +120. In this scenario, the bettor can wager $140 on Williams laying off or giving 2.0 games. Games betting is determined by the total number of games won in the match, but the player does not have to win the match. For example Williams could win the first set 6-0, and then lose two sets 6-7, 5-7. Williams has won 17 games. Ivanovic has won the match but only 14 games. In games betting, Williams is the victor. If the Bettor wagered $140, the bettor will profit $100.

1st set wager

A fourth tennis betting type, the 1st set wager is a popular play. The line might look like: Williams 8/13 – Ivanovic 6/5. If the bettor wagers $130 on Williams and Venus wins the first set, the bettor profits $80. If the bettor wagers $100 on Ivanovic and Ana wins the first set, the bettor profits $120.

Savvy tennis betting requires homework and money management discipline. Many tennis bettors like to play the underdogs. The world of professional tennis is filled with talented Men’s and Women’s players. Every match is hard fought. It has become increasingly difficult to dominate today’s tennis events. There are profits to be made by informed bettors.