Tennis betting

“Tennis betting. Isn’t it all about backing Federer to win?” Not quite. Though a number of punters stick to backing the Swiss at all costs, betting on tennis offers a multitude of profitable opportunities for those prepared to go against the grain.

It could be argued that tennis bets fall into two categories: selecting the favourites and making a series of logical predictions about who will finish well enough to warrant each-way support. Online tennis betting widens these possibilities considerably and bookmakers duly widen their markets on an event-by-event basis.

For example, in the UK, tennis betting increases markedly during Wimbledon (Roger Federer is, surprise, surprise, the 5/4 favourite to win the title in 2010), but the likelihood is that, should Scotland’s Andy Murray make progress in the tournament, the numbers betting on tennis for the first time will rise dramatically.

So what is the most common tennis bet offered by your bookmaker?

Well, while the internet is awash with an array of exotic wagers for most punters, having a ‘standard’ bet on tennis usually entails either backing a tournament or a specific match winner. For several years, therefore, predictions regarding likely Major winners have been influenced by whether Federer is competing and the type of surface upon which the tournament will be played.

Tennis betting odds can vary markedly if a tournament is being played on clay, for example, where Rafael Nadal is considered virtually unbeatable. This year, he is 4/11 to win the French Open, but as long as 9/2 to triumph at Wimbledon.

By contrast, bookmakers install Federer as favourite to reign on Wimbledon’s grass and online tennis betting enthusiasts will note that Andy Murray is ahead of Nadal in the market to emerge victorious on the lush turf of SW19 where he is priced at 7/2.

But having a bet on tennis is not limited to win-lose outcomes, or even to individuals. This year, for instance, Federer is quoted at 11/4 to claim three Major titles; the bold predictor of outcomes can get 8/1 against him winning all four. Then there’s the Davis Cup where tennis betting markets are usually determined by which nation will emerge victorious: Serbia remain the 5/2 favourites to bag the trophy this year.

During events such as Wimbledon and the French Open, punters are likely to be offered a free tennis bet when registering with an internet bookmaker. The same tournaments witness a surge in tennis live betting when punters can place their wagers ‘in-play’, ie, while the match is in progress. The appeal of free tennis betting in such circumstances is obvious.

Online tennis betting has grown in popularity over the past few years and 2010 promises to be an attractive one for those who enjoy taking the bookmakers on. Furthermore, should signs of Federer’s demise start to appear, the numbers having a bet on tennis could be boosted as the chances of players such as Andy Roddick and David Malbandian increase.

Finally, for the record, Andy Murray is quoted at 5/4 to win a Major this year; if you’re mindful of taking advantage of that free tennis bet, these odds should not be discounted….