Live In-Play Tennis Betting Strategy
In-play tennis betting has exploded in popularity with tennis punters at betting sites, as this is a sport which lends itself extremely well to live betting.
As momentum swings back and forth during a match, bettors look to exploit gaps in the live betting odds and gain an edge.
The best tennis betting sites all offer in-play markets and their odds compilers are kept busy - especially during big events like Grand Slam tournaments.
In this guide we'll discuss how to get the most out of your in-play tennis betting strategy.
How to Bet on Tennis Live
Prices move very quickly in-play in tennis, so you sometimes need to make decisions on the spot. Be aware that these live tennis odds are likely to move while you're in the process of placing a bet.
Navigate to the tennis match you want to bet on and if you want to back a player to win the match at that point, simply click the button next to either his/her name or the odds next to the name of your selected player.
This will place your bet in the bet basket, but it won't be confirmed until you've added a stake and then hit the 'confirm bet' button.
At this stage you may get a notification that asks you to confirm that you want to accept an odds change, as the price may have altered in the seconds that you were adding the bet to the basket.
You may wish to cancel the bet if the odds are prohibitive, but if not, go ahead and hit the confirm button and your bet is on. This is usually a seamless process when you're using top tennis betting sites or betting apps online.
In-Play Tennis Betting Markets Explained
Depending on the status of the match (Grand Slams etc will have many more markets) and how many other matches are live at the same time, you'll have a variety of in-play markets to choose from. As well as match odds, there's generally the following bet options to pick from:
- Set Betting: With set betting you choose not only the match winner, but what the final set score will be. This can be a useful one when you fancy a favourite to win in a Slam match, but not convincingly. The 3-1 set score regularly occurs in that situation.
- Current Set Betting: Who will win the set being played at that moment? This is a good betting market if you fancy the player that's winning to fail to close out a set.
- Game Betting: Who will win the current game being played? Again, this is handy if you fancy a player to falter serving out a game or if you reckon a great returner will blunt a big server. On clay in particular we see a lot more breaks of serve (average holds on clay are around 75%) so watch out for an in-play market like this when taking advantage of French Open betting offers.
- Game Handicap: The underdog (player B in this example) is given a head start of a certain number of games and you have to decide whether or not player B will cover that handicap mark. If player B is evens to win the match +3.5 games, and you take that bet, and the match ends 7-6, 6-4 to player A, then you win because player A has only won by 3 games (13 to 10 in total) and player B had a 3.5 games start. You can also place this bet the other way around by backing player A to win -3.5 games if you fancy a comfortable victory. To win that bet, player A must win the match by at least a total of 4 games (i.e. 6-4, 6-4 or better).
- Total Games Over/Under: A total games tennis bet is placed on how many games overall will have been played by the end of the match. For example, a 7-6, 6-2 match result would give you 21 total games. If you backed under 21.5 games, your bet would be a winner.
- Correct Score Betting: The most common correct score tennis bet when betting live is on the score of a certain set. This could be the set currently in-play at the time you place the bet, while some bookmakers also allow you to predict the final score of the upcoming set. So, if you fancied a big server like Nick Kyrgios to hold serve all set and win the tie break, your best bet would be to back a score of 7-6 to Kyrgios in that set.
- Point Betting: You need to be quick for this bet! This is simply a wager on the player who will win the next point. These are clearly labelled, for example - 'Set 3, Game 3, Point 4'.
- Tie Break in Match/Set: Do you reckon there will be a tie break in the current set, or in the match as a whole? Both of these markets are offered in-play and are useful if you spot two players in a great serving groove early on in a set.
- Race to Three/Four/Five Games: This is a useful market if you fancy either a serve-dominated or return-oriented encounter. The bettor is simply picking which player they fancy to hit a number of games first. For example, if you picked Novak Djokovic against Andy Murray in a race to four games, and Djokovic secured a 4-3 lead in that set, your bet would be a winner.
Five Keys to Live Tennis Betting
- Use the stats to your advantage
- Don't be swayed too much by recent form
- Don't lose faith in your player too early
- There's no substitute for knowledge of individual players and their tendencies
- Watch matches with a live streaming bookie like bet365 and be aware of early signs of fatigue/injury/changing weather conditions
In-Play Tennis Betting Tips
You are generally better off betting in-play rather than taking pre-match odds because you'll often find that the price on the player you fancy will be bigger at some point in-play.
A player dropping his/her opening service game, or going down 0-40 or 15-40, is common. This usually means little to the outcome of a match, especially on the slower surfaces such as clay or slow hard courts. If you wait a few minutes and bet in-play you can sometimes get the price you wanted the pre-match odds to be.
Similarly, don't lose faith in your player too early. Many professional bettors adopt a strategy of sticking with their player until the end, allowing them to get superb prices in-play. This strategy is obviously highly risky, but can pay huge dividends, if your nerves can stand it.
Be aware of the different playing surfaces and weather conditions. If your player is 15-40 down on grass (at Wimbledon for example) and possesses a big serve they can often serve their way out of the game and make you a nice profit on in-play game betting.
Tennis Offers: Access the best 2024 Wimbledon free bets
For bets like those, stats are your friend and there are loads of freely available statistics on the ATP Tour website or sites like Tennis Abstract, such as 'service games won', 'break points saved' and 'break points converted'. These stats are broken down season-by-season and surface-by-surface, so you'll have the latest information at your fingertips to use in your in-play betting.
While stats are really helpful, there's no substitute for player knowledge. This can help you enormously when it comes to in-play betting. Much of top-level pro tennis is played in the mind and knowing when a player is likely to 'choke' when serving for a set or match is extremely valuable.
You'll find that on a quick surface most players would be around 1/5 (1.20) or so (depending on the circumstances) to serve a set or match out if they have a decent serve, but knowing which players are likely to falter in that situation is key.
The majority of players are better when playing from behind, as there's no pressure on them at that stage, but when the pressure reverses and they're expected to serve out a set/match they can become passive and just hope for mistakes rather than continuing to go after the win - inadvertently abandoning the tactics that got them to the verge of the victory.
Following sharp betting minds on social media is valuable in that case, as listening to the right people can help your knowledge for future (or current) matches and betting opportunities.
Weather conditions are also important in outdoor tennis. On clay they still play in the rain (unless it becomes heavy) so the court will slow down and balls will become heavier. Relying on having a good serve becomes less important and break opportunities will increase.
Similarly, rain delays (or any significant delay in a match) often change the outcome, with players often losing any momentum they've gained when sent back to the locker room. A player can look down and out, but the rest and a chat with their coach can work wonders. The player leading may well get edgy, so turnarounds after delays are common.
Recent form can be helpful when it comes to getting a good price on a player. Bookmakers tend to value recent form highly and are often guilty of 'recency bias' where perhaps one player has struggled a bit recently (maybe due to a niggling injury or illness) and another has had a great run.
That doesn't mean that the outcome is a foregone conclusion and if your player (the one that's been struggling lately) goes down an early break, the bookies are likely to overreact. You might well get a great price on this bet.
In-Play Tennis Betting Verdict
There's so much choice with in-play markets these days that there's a live wager for every type of punter in the sport of tennis. Some bookmakers have a wider range of in-play markets than others, so it's worth checking out the best new betting sites as well as the established favourites and comparing the markets on offer.
Using the strategies and tips in this article will hopefully aid your choices and perhaps above all else a bet should only be placed in-play when you're thinking clearly. Patience and calmness are key to in-play tennis betting.
For more tennis betting tips, follow our weekly outright picks on Gambling.com.
Recommended Betting Sites
- 18+. T&C ApplyUp To 100% Combo Bet BoosterForecasts & Tournaments with Cash Prizes6-Tier Sports VIP Programnot requiredBonus CodeThe code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?YesOur RatingGambling.com's rating of this betting site out of 100Bet BuilderCan you create your own personalised bets?NoCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?NoAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet downNoTonyBet provides bettors in Ireland with an attractive and uncomplicated dual betting site and casino platform which can be accessed using their impressive Android and iOS mobile app.
- 18+. T&C Apply
- 318+ T&C's Apply
- 418+. T&C Apply. Promo code: PRIBET100
- 18+. T&C's Apply.
- 6*New members. Min €10 deposit & bet on sportsbook (ex. virtual), placed & settled within 14 days of sign-up. Min odds EVS; win part e/w bet only. Free Bets: valid 7 days on sportsbook. Stakes not returned. T&Cs apply. Click here for full T&Cs. Bet Responsibly. Gamblingcare.ie. 18+
- New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £/€10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £/€10 Place). Receive £/€20 Tote Credit, £/€10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.
- 18+ New customers only. Opt in, place your first bet of €10 or more on any sports market. Get up to a €60 match in Free Bets. Offer available until 23:59 IST on 31.12.2024. Free bets expire after 7 days. Debit Card/Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. gamblingcare.ie | Please gamble responsibly
- 918+ T&C's Apply
- 18+. T&C Apply
- 1118+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. T&C's apply.
- 1218+. T&C Apply
- New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+
- IRE/NI new customers only. Min Deposit €/£10. Min stake €/£10. Min odds Evs. Free Bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. Free Bets expire in 7 days. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment method restrictions. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply.
- 1518+. T&C Apply
- 1618+. T&C Apply
- 1718+ T&C's Apply
- 1818+, New Customers Only, Play Responsibly, T&C Apply.
- 18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet up to €50 (min. €20) on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get up to 2x €25 in free bets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply. http://gamblingcare.ie | Please gamble responsibly
- 18+. Promo Code: ZB100S. T&C's Apply.
- 2118+. T&C Apply
- 18+. New Customers only, Min deposit €20. min odds 1.5. T &Cs apply.
- 18+. T&C Apply
- 24Qualifying bet of €10 at min. odds 2.0 within 5 days of registration, E/W excluded. Get 3x Free Bets at min odds 2.0 each. 1x€10 Football, 1x€10 Racing, 1x€10 Acca (Min 4 selections). 7-day expiry. New selected customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of €10. Full T&Cs apply.
- 18+. New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of $/€10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: $/€200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms Apply.
- 2618+ T&C's Apply
- 18+. T&C Apply
- 2818+. T&C Apply
- 18+. T&C Apply
- 3018+. T&C Apply
- 18+. New customers only. Min deposit €10, maximum bonus that can be awarded in this promotion is €100. T&C's apply.
- The Casino accepts strictly adult players (the minimum age is 18) and players who have reached the age specified by the jurisdiction of player’s place of residence as eligible for online gaming.
- 18+ Ts&Cs Apply
- 18+. T&C Apply
- 3518+ T&C's Apply
- 18+ Play Safe. New customers using Promo code BB40 only. Min €10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 4 x €10, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 7 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. gamblingtherapy.org
- 3718+. New Depositors Only. Min. Dep: €10. Max Bonus €100 + 10 Spins on Book of Dead. The welcome offer requires 1 deposit. Welcome bonus must be used within 14 days or it expires. spins expire after 24h. Bonus subject to 9x wagering with min. Odds 2.00 per single bet or 1.40 per combo bet selection. Spins subject to 35x wagering
- 18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply
- 3918+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: €10, max €10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply
- 18+. New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply.
- Welcome Bonus Bet - Bet €10 Get €15 terms. This offer is for new sports customers only and is available once per household. Max. Bonus Bet amount €15. Minimum wagering on the sport to activate the Bonus Bet is €10 (which can be achieved from a Min deposit of €10). Offer valid only to customers wagering on sport €10 or more and make a qualifying bet in accordance with the Bonus Bet Specific Terms and Conditions below. 1st Place Prize: €1000. Prizes granted up to 48h after the tournament ends. Bonus Bet does not contribute towards the leaderboard. Click to see full T&Cs
- 42Min. bet €10 to receive €20 Free Bet (placed 10 days from registration). Min. odds of 1.6. Free Bet credited at qualifying bet settlement and placed within 10 days.
- 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: €10, max €10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. Full T&Cs Apply.
- 18+. T&C's apply
- 4518+. T&C Apply
- 18+. T&C Apply
- 18+. T&C's apply
- 18+. T&C Apply
- New ROI customers only. Min Deposit: €5. Maximum Free Bet: €50. Overall odds: 1.50 (1/2) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 50 Bonus Spins credited on placement of qualifying bet. 50x bonus wagering applies as do weighting requirements. Bonus Spins only available on selected games. Debit card deposits only. Offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+ GamblingCare.ie.
- 18+. T&C Apply
Stay In The Loop With Free Bets, Insider Tips & More!
Live Betting. Sports Promos. Sent Weekly.