Main Tennis Betting Markets

Tennis is one of the most popular sports for betting. Matches run year-round, the schedule is packed, and each encounter offers enough outcomes to find an interesting option.

Match winner — the simplest bet. You choose who will win the match. There are no draws in tennis: one player always wins, the other loses. The odds depend on the difference in class: lower for the favorite, higher for the underdog.

Game handicap — a bet accounting for the difference in score. For example, a –4.5 handicap on the favorite means they must win by 5 games more than their opponent. If the match score is 6:3, 6:2, the difference is +7 — the handicap wins. If 6:4, 7:5, the difference is +4 — the handicap loses.

Set handicap works the same way but is counted by sets. A –1.5 handicap on the favorite means they must win 2:0 in a best-of-three match or 3:0 (3:1) in a best-of-five.

Total games — a bet on the total number of games in the match. The bookmaker sets a line, for example 21.5. If 22 games or more are played in the match — over wins, if 21 or fewer — under wins. Totals can be bet on the entire match, an individual set, or a specific player's games.

Correct score by sets — a bet on how the match will finish: 2:0, 2:1, 0:2, or 1:2. Odds here are higher than on the winner, but harder to predict.

Set winner — a bet on the outcome of an individual set. You can bet on the first, second, or third set without waiting for the result of the entire match.

Tennis Betting Specifics

There are no draws in tennis — a match always ends with one player winning. This distinguishes tennis from football or hockey, where a draw is possible.

Court surface affects play. Hard court — universal surface, medium bounce speed. Clay — slow surface, the ball bounces high, rallies are long, advantage to players with endurance and strong topspin. Grass — fast surface, the ball flies low, advantage to servers and attacking players. Some players perform better on clay, others on grass. This should be considered when choosing a bet.

Match format determines the length of the encounter. In men's ATP Masters and higher tournaments, matches are often played to three sets won (out of five possible), in other tournaments — to two (out of three). In women's WTA tournaments, nearly all matches are played to two sets. The longer the format, the more likely the favorite will realize their advantage.

Live Tennis Betting

Tennis is convenient for in-play betting. A game lasts a few minutes, there's a pause between games, you can assess the players' form and place a bet before the next rally.

Live odds change after each game, and sometimes during a game — especially on important serves or break points. If a player is losing the first set, odds on their match win increase. If they win the set — they drop.

Broadcast delay is an important factor. The bookmaker receives data faster than you see the picture on screen. There can be a delay of several seconds between the real score and what the video shows. If you bet looking only at the broadcast, the odds may have already changed or betting on that moment may have closed.

Player Retirement and Settlement Rules

Retirement — a player's withdrawal from continuing the match due to injury or another reason. The match ends early, victory is awarded to the opponent.

Settlement rules for bets in case of retirement vary among bookmakers. Some honor all bets if at least one set has been played. Others refund bets on the match outcome if a player withdrew before the second set was completed. Others settle only those markets whose outcome has already been determined by the time of withdrawal (for example, first set winner). Read the rules section on the bookmaker's site before betting on a match with injury risk.

Calculation Example

For example, you bet 20 EUR on a player to win at odds of 1.75. If they win, the return will be 20 × 1.75 = 35 EUR. Net profit — 15 EUR.

You bet 30 EUR on over 22.5 games at odds of 1.90. 24 games are played in the match. Return: 30 × 1.90 = 57 EUR, profit 27 EUR. If 22 games are played — the bet loses.

Beginner Mistakes

Betting on the favorite without considering the surface. A player is strong on hard court but weak on clay — the odds may not reflect the actual situation.

Ignoring the match format. In a short format (two out of three sets), the probability of an upset is higher. The favorite may lose one unlucky set — and the match is lost.

Live betting without understanding the score. A player is down 0:3 in the first set, but serves very strongly and lost all three games on the opponent's serve. If they hold serve going forward, the set can go to a tiebreak. The odds on their win are inflated.

Chasing odds. Betting on correct score 2:1 offers high odds but requires guessing both the winner and the match scenario. For starters, it's better to bet on more predictable markets.

Legality of Betting in Latvia

Online sports betting is legal in Latvia only with a VID interactive gambling license. The list of licensed operators is published on the VID website — this is the only official source for verification. Bookmakers from international rankings operate under licenses from other countries — most often Curaçao, Malta, Gibraltar, or the Isle of Man. These jurisdictions issue gambling permits, but their licenses are not recognized by VID: from the perspective of Latvian law, such platforms have no right to offer services to players from Latvia.

Latvian legislation prohibits participation in interactive gambling organized without a VID license and provides for a fine for individuals from 70 to 350 euros. VID maintains a list of blocked domains, providers are required to restrict access to these addresses. Latvian law does not protect players on offshore platforms: VID does not control their operations, the VID self-exclusion register does not apply to them, banks may reject payments to unlicensed sites.

Responsible Gaming

Sports betting is available only to persons over 18 years of age. Before you start, set a budget you are willing to spend and do not exceed it. A bet is a risk, not a way to earn money. Take breaks, do not bet when tired or after a series of losses. Do not gamble on credit and do not try to chase losses with new bets.

If you feel you are losing control over gambling, use the VID self-exclusion register: the minimum ban period is 12 months, you can set it longer. The register will protect you from access to Latvia-licensed platforms. Counseling centers and support hotlines operate in Latvia — reach out to specialists if you need help.

Author: Jewgienij Ja. · Updated: 22.10.2026