Our guide to betting on tennis is invaluable if you are a beginner or experienced in bet on tennis and tennis odds. Hence, we look at the various tennis betting lines at some of the best betting sites in Nigeria.
You can also read information about registering on a tennis betting site. The article covers different types of tennis odds, including set spread and game spread. Finally, we suggest a tennis betting strategy and list the top 10 tennis bookmakers.
Betting on Tennis
Tennis is possibly the second most popular betting sport after football. It is rare that more tennis bets are placed on the live platform than in pre-match markets. The global sport stages tournaments all year round, in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. There is a major professional tour for men (ATP) and women (WTA).
However, there is a vast pyramid of tournaments, and players strive to win matches that move them up the rankings. So, the Challenge Tour feeds players into the main tours. Then, the next level down is International Tennis Federation (ITF) events, followed by even more minor tournaments. Even so, there is a pathway to the main tours.
Betting on the sport has grown over the last 20 years due to live betting and streaming. Bookmakers quote a range of matches and set markets and short-term bets on each point. Tennis is ideally suited to betting in-play due to the fluctuations in the scoring and the odds.
The surface is a major factor to consider when thinking about a bet on tennis. So, events are played outdoors on hardcourts, indoors on hardcourts, indoors on carpet, outdoors on grass, and outdoors on clay. The speed of the courts determines the bounce and the difficulty of returning a shot, especially a service which starts each point.
You can examine a player’s record on each surface. Clay court specialist, Rafael Nadal, should be followed on the surface. Novak Djokovic is a better player on hard courts than clay. Roger Federer excels on grass, but after Wimbledon, there are few opportunities on the surface. However, these very best players have a good all-around game that can be adapted for the playing conditions.
Major Tennis Betting Events
There are four Grand Slam tournaments which are the events the better players crave the most. The end-of-season ATP Finals have had many venues. However, from 2009 to 2020, the event was played at the O2 Arena in London on hardcourts. So Turin hosts the event from 2021 to 2025, also on hardcourts.
The top eight available players in the year-long standings qualify. In addition, the women’s equivalent is the WTA Finals, but the event has been suspended until further notice.
There are annual international tournaments for both genders. So, the Davis Cup is played on a knockout basis for men, while the Fed Cup is a similar event for females. Also, each tour features high-ranking tournaments that are just below the Grand Slams level in terms of prize money, ranking points, and prestige.
How to Register on a Betting Site and Bet on Tennis
Most sportsbooks in Nigeria offer tennis odds in pre-match, live, and ante-post outright winner markets. However, you must join an operator to place your bets. Only registered customers who can log in using a Username and Password can bet on tennis and many other sports.
So, here is a step-by-step guide to registering on a site and how to bet on tennis.
Choose a Betting Site
Numerous betting sites operate in the Nigerian market, so the first step is to select one that meets your betting needs. So, maybe the welcome bonus is important or any ongoing promos.
However, you should consider the site with the best tennis odds to bet on tennis. This means the value in the odds and the range of markets.
Register With the Bookmaker
In order to place bets, you must register with your preferred bookmaker. Registration involves creating a Username and Password, filling in required fields, and optionally entering a bonus code.
Then you confirm you are the legal age for gambling in Nigeria which is 18, accept the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions, and register.
Fund Your Account
Customers with Nigeria-facing bookmakers can choose from a selection of payment methods. The most popular providers are mobile money operations. However, other options include cards, Bank transfers, Paysafecard, and e-Wallets.
There is a minimum and maximum deposit, transactions are usually free, and transfers are normally immediate, so you have instant access to your funds to bet on tennis.
Navigate to the Event and Player
You can use a search box by entering a tournament or player. As one of the most popular betting sports, tennis could appear on a Quick Links list. In any case, the sport will be on an A-Z list.
Having clicked on ‘Tennis’ you select the tournament and match from upcoming events. So, this means you can locate the player you want to back with a minimum of clicks and minimal delay.
Enter Selections on the Betslip
When you click on the odds for a player, the bet slip activates, and you can place a single bet. As you add more selections, the options include doubles, trebles, accumulators, and system bets.
Also, you may be able to use a free bet or odds boost, but you can combine your predictions in multiples and permutations on the betting slip when you bet on tennis.
Place Your Bets
Having made your selections and chosen the bet type, you can enter the unit stake. The bookmaker shows the total stake and potential return. Then you place the bet, which in most cases is confirmed and accepted. The bookmaker will then update your account balance, showing the current balance after a deduction for your tennis betting wager.
Follow Live Coverage on Streaming or a Scores App
You can follow your backed players on live streaming at the bookmaker site or scoring updates on a live score website or app. Also, most online bookmakers will allow partial or full cash out for tennis so you can take control of your bets.
So, the cash-out value depends on the stake and odds of the original tennis bet and the latest odds.
Suspended Betting
However, bookmakers suspend betting after a key event, such as a break of serve and the end of the set. These events have a direct impact on the two-way match winner market. So you can’t cash out your bets but have to wait for the bookmaker to display the updated odds.
This happens after a short delay, and live betting continues until the next key incident or the end of the match.
The Different Types of Tennis Bets
In this section, we explain the different types of tennis bets with relevant examples. So let’s assume it’s a match in July 2022 at Wimbledon between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Set Spread
Men’s matches at Grand Slam tournaments are played over five sets. Djokovic is the match-winner favourite, so the spread would be Nadal plus one and a half sets. So, Djokovic must win by at least two sets to be the handicap winner.
Game Spread
The two players are closely matched, so the event could go to five sets. If Djokovic wins, he will probably win most games. So, the game spread would be Nadal plus three and a half games. That means Djokovic must win at least four games more than Nadal to win the game spread bet.
Outright Results
The outright winner of a tennis tournament can be bet on from before the event start right up to the final. Bookmakers will provide odds for 128 players in the draw. Djokovic is the likely outright winner favourite at 3.0 (2/1), and Nadal is the likely second favourite at 5.0 (4/1) before play begins.
MoneyLine Bets
Money line bets are two-way bets on the match-winner, so 12 rather than tennis 1×2. Djokovic would be the favourite at 1.66 (4/6), and Nadal would be the underdog at 2.1 (11/10). However, in the event of retirement due to injury, bookmakers have specific rules to deal with this scenario.
Over/Under Bets
You can bet on over or under the number of games and the number of sets. In our fictitious matchup between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, the respective quotes would probably be 39.5 games and 4.5 sets, and you can bet on over or under these totals.
Correct Score
Bookmakers offer correct score betting on each set and the match. The set correct score favourite is likely to be 6-4 or 6-3 in games for the player that serves first and 3-2 in sets to Djokovic, the match favourite. However, there are many variables in this type of tennis bet.
Prop Bets
Tennis is suited to prop bets such as the following for each player: aces, breaks of serve, double faults, games won, sets won, games won to nil and sets won to nil. Additionally, bookmakers offer short term markets such as the winner of the next point, and the server will always be the favourite.
Match Bets
Match bets are the same as money line bets, and there are two options: Djokovic or Nadal, so you cannot place a tennis 1×2 bet. Some bookmakers settle this bet on the player to proceed to the next round if the match is not completed due to an injury.
Handicap Bets
Handicap bets are the same as spread totals. That means you can back Djokovic or Nadal, giving and receiving a specific number of games and sets. As the underdog, Nadal will have a head start in both markets. So, bets are settled on the result adjusted for any handicap.
In Play Bets
Bookmakers offer numerous in-play tennis events from the ATP and WTA tours, Challenger matches and ITF events. Minor matches could be live-streamed, but bettors can view a graphical representation of the progress of play and live match data across many events.
Tennis Accumulator
You can place accumulator bets on matches or events. That means you can have a multiple bet on two or more players to win their matches. You could also back Djokovic (3.0) to win the men’s singles at Wimbledon and Serena Williams (2.0) to win the women’s event at a combined odds of 6.0.
Other Tennis Bets Available
The betting options are extensive in men’s and women’s tournaments. Here is a range of other tennis bets.
- Nationality of tournament winner
- Round of elimination for selected players
- Number of match and tournament double faults
- Days delayed by rain at Wimbledon
- Number of tournament retirements
- Each way outright winner
- Forecast on the two finalists
- Number of the match and tournament aces
- Forecast the four semi-finalists
- Grand Slam wins in a season for selected players
- Number of match and tournament breaks of serving
- Grand Slam finals in a season for selected players
You can choose from numerous tennis betting lines on matches and tournaments.
Betting Value
When you identify odds bigger than your perceived probability, you have found some value in the odds. For example, you might think Rafael Nadal should be the favourite to beat Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. That means you can place a bet on tennis on who you believe should be the favourite at underdog odds.
Betting value is not quantifiable and is more about perception. However, odds compilers do make the mistakes, so their odds may not reflect each player’s relative form and ability. That means you are betting on value when you have a different opinion than the bookmakers.
Tennis Betting Odds Explained
Odds for a bet on tennis can be expressed in decimal, fractional and American format. They are usually fixed odds, but they do change based on the weight of money. So, if there are more bets on Djokovic than on Nadal, his odds will shorten, and his opponents’ odds will get bigger. You can use a bet calculator to calculate the returns from complex bets by entering the odds.
Strategy When Betting on Tennis
Any bet on tennis is not easy, and there are no guarantees. However, you can improve your chances by following the strategies described below.
Know the Sport Well
You can focus on tennis betting, which means you can dedicate some time to getting to know the sport well. Being selective can improve your strategies when you bet on tennis.
Be Rational – Do Not Bet on Impulse
Avoid betting for the wrong reasons and be calm when you make your selections. Carefully consider your predictions before you bet on tennis.
Study Form and Head-To-Head Results
There are many free online resources for player form and head-to-head results. You can break down these records by the surface and quality of the tournament.
Consider the Playing Surface
The playing surface is a vital factor in the outcome of a match: hardcourts, carpet, clay, grass. Research a player’s favourite surface before any betting on the sport.
Know the Tennis Betting Markets
Bookmakers offer an extensive range of tennis betting lines so you should be aware of the markets. Identify bookmakers that allow cash out betting during a live tennis match.
Be Aware of Injured Players / Weather Forecast / Home Team Advantage
In addition to form and rankings, injuries, weather and venue are important factors. You must try to gather as much information as possible before placing your bets.
Set a Betting Budget: Only Money That You Can Lose
Set your budget for a session and do not bet with money that you cannot afford to lose. In the case of betting problems, you can refer to responsible gambling measures.
Top 10 Sites to Bet on Tennis: Current Offers and Bonuses in Nigeria
Here are the top 10 betting sites for tennis in Nigeria and the current welcome bonus:
| Betting Sites | Bonuses | Code |
|---|---|---|
Bet9ja | 100% welcome bonus +50% casino bonus | MAX9JA |
1xbet | 300% up to ₦189 280 | Bet on 1xbet |
Betking | Bet and Get ₦25,000 in Free bets | BONUSBET |
Betway | Offers 100% bonus up to ₦250,000 | PROMOMAX |
N1bet | 300% bonus up to ₦500,000 | Bet on N1bet |
Betwinner | 100% bonus of up to ₦100,000 | BEMYBETNG |
Yangasport | Get up to 600% Acca Bonus | MAXPROMO |
22bet | 100% bonus up to ₦50,000 | Bet on 22bet |
Pari Match | 100 bonus up to ₦150,000 | NGPARI |
bet365 | Up to $30 in Bet Credits* (Key Terms: Min deposit requirement. Bet Credits are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.) | Code: BETMAX365 (The bonus code BETMAX can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way) |
How We Selected Our Bookmakers for Tennis Betting
There are many qualities and features that make for a recommended bookmaker. So, here are the criteria for selecting our top 10 bookmakers for tennis betting in Nigeria:
- Betting offers such as boosted tennis multiples and tennis multiples odds boost. Bookmakers could also offer free bets and enhanced matches and tournaments.
- Odds represent the probability of a winner of a tennis match, so you should look for some value. The match favourite could be too short in the betting, so the value lies in backing the underdog.
- Betting markets for matches and tournament winner. Most bookmakers will offer odds on the men’s and women’s singles but you might want to bet on a doubles match.
- Live streaming of tennis matches that enhances live betting. For contractual reasons, bookmakers are unlikely to live stream the ATP and WTA tours but may stream Challenger and ITC matches.
- Licensed bookmakers with recognised regulatory bodies. In Nigeria, the Lagos State Lotteries Board and Nigeria Gambling Commission licence and regulate online bookmakers.
Bet on Tennis – Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to some common questions about tennis betting.