How To Create A Live Betting Tennis Strategy

Live betting has grown to be one of the most fun activities for players. It is no secret that you can wager on hundreds of tennis matches that have already started daily. In most clashes, there is generally a clear favourite and outsider.

With not all favourites starting strongly, there are greater opportunities to find value with a strong live tennis betting strategy. Another benefit is the number of in-play sportsbook features, which include cash out and live streaming.

This page will outline the top strategies and markets available while also delivering our top tips to avoid losing money. You will also find the best bookies for this form of betting, where backing losing favourites is often profitable.

How to Form an In-Play Tennis Betting System & Win

We will begin our guide by offering some basic tips on how to form a winning tennis live betting strategy. Before deciding on a particular market or player to bet on, you should consider several points. The first is to select the right bookmaker, with our favourites being listed below:

⏩ Follow the action live

You can give yourself the best possible chance of placing winning live bets by following the action. Whether it be by watching the match live on TV or through live updates, following the action will give you a better insight as to which player may ultimately come out on top.

⏩ Only bet on 2-3 markets max 

Rather than taking advantage of all live tennis betting markets, focus on 2-3 that suit your strategy. Keep track of your success rate with such markets and make alterations where necessary.

⏩ Check the most crucial tennis stats

A large amount of tennis statistics are available online. Consider stats surrounding breaks of serve, tiebreaks won, grand slam record and recent results. Information here will make it easier to pick a winner.

⏩ Pick the right matches/competitions

Focus on tennis competitions that you have a good understanding of. Rules often differ between events. For example, you may find Championship tiebreaks in doubles to decide the winner of a match.

Most Profitable Markets for Tennis Live Betting

There are an increasing number of live tennis betting markets available online. However, it is the following that are among the best on how to bet on tennis and win:

Match Winner

The simplest way to place an in-play tennis bet is to back a particular player/pair to win the match. Available from after the first point until almost the final point, odds are constantly changing based on winners being hit, breaks of serve and other in-game outcomes. This is arguably the best live betting tennis strategy for beginners.

Total Games

How many games will be played during an ongoing tennis match? If one player dominates, then there will be just a few. However, if each set requires a tie-break, then a greater number of games will be recorded. If two great servers like Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Fritz are playing against each other, it is quite likely to surpass the Over/Under line by far.

Game Handicaps

When there is a clear favourite and underdog, bookies will introduce tennis handicap betting. For example, when Novak Djokovic plays a player ranked outside of the top 100, you could back the Serb to win at -4.5 games. This means that he must win by at least 5 games for your bet to be successful.

Combos

It is also possible to place combination bet on live tennis matches. For example, you could bet on Frances Tiafoe to beat Alex de Minaur + over 28.5 games during the match. This will boost your potential returns.

Which Are The Top 3 Tennis Live Betting Strategies

We will now take a closer look at our top 3 strategies for betting live on tennis. The strategies have been put forward based on our vast experience. Rather than following them blindly, select the system that you are most comfortable with:

Betting on a Losing Favourite

In both men’s and women’s tennis, the player who is leading the match early on is not always the favourite. Whether they have underestimated their opponent or are notoriously slow starters, betting on such a player to come from behind to win is worth considering.

For example, at Wimbledon in 2022, Nick Kyrgios lost the opening set to wildcard Paul Jubb before eventually winning in five sets.

Knowing how long to wait before placing such a bet is the tricky part. The best players will often quickly rediscover their top form. So, when forming your in-play tennis strategy, consider the odds available, as well as the potential returns.

On top of this, upsets at Grand Slams are less common. Top players are hugely motivated at Wimbledon, the US Open, etc. This is in contrast to other tournaments throughout the season, where they may not put in 100%.

Game Handicaps for a Market Leader

As we have already discussed, a popular live-betting tennis strategy is to back the favourite using a game handicap. Unlike the system outlined above, this strategy works best when the player in question is already in the lead.

When taking on a higher-ranked opponent, the lesser-known player will potentially accept their fate and effectively give up. The handicap chosen will depend on the players involved, as well as your objectives. However, be realistic, as 6-0 and 6-0 scorelines are rare.

Back a Player to Break the Serve

Particularly profitable in the women’s game, betting on a player to break the serve of their opponent is another appealing option. This tennis betting strategy works best in women’s matches due to the increased number of service breaks.

This occurs when the returning player wins the game. Breaks of serve take place more often during minor tournaments, in comparison with Grand Slams, where every game is so important.

Is In-play Tennis Betting Worth the Trouble?

Live tennis betting is increasingly popular. With pre-match odds not always being appealing, in-play markets provide a potentially lucrative alternative. If you can come up with an effective in-play tennis betting strategy, as outlined on this page, then you could well make a profit.

Be sure to use all available statistics while following the action as it takes place where possible. Below, we have outlined the main pros and cons of live betting on tennis:

Pros:

✅ Better value to be found when compared to pre-match tennis markets
✅ Promotions specific to in-play betting are often available
✅ Features including cash out and live streaming add to the experience
✅ Range of in-play tennis markets, including totals and handicaps.

Cons:

❌ Odds are constantly changing
❌ More difficult to plan ahead
❌ Limited time to conduct research
❌ Danger of engaging in emotional betting

Best Bookmakers to Try a Live Betting Tennis Strategy

Now that you have a system in place, it is time to try live tennis betting for yourself. Below, we have listed the best bookmakers offering in-play tennis markets. When ranking bookies, we considered whether live streaming was available, along with the competitiveness of odds, the variety of markets and tournament coverage.