Sports · Updated
Tennis betting, point by point and set by set.
Tennis betting means backing an outcome in a match: who wins, the exact set score, or how many games are played. Tennis has no draw, so every match ends with a winner. King Exchange covers the four Grand Slams and the ATP and WTA tours, before the first serve and live between points.
Tennis at a glance
In-play markets- Events
- Slams, Masters, WTA 1000
- Surfaces
- Hard, clay, grass
- Match length
- Best of 3 or 5 sets
- When to bet
- Pre-match & live
- Draw possible?
- No
The short version
Key takeaways
- 1Tennis has no draw. Every match ends with a winner.
- 2Clay suits long rallies and grass suits big servers. Hard courts sit in between.
- 3One ID covers the four Grand Slams and both the ATP and WTA tours.
- 4If a player retires, some markets are void, but markets already decided still stand.
Markets explained
What can I bet on in tennis?
You can bet on the match winner, set betting, total games, game handicaps, the first set winner and more. Match winner is the simplest, with only two outcomes. Heavy favourites pay little, so set betting or a game handicap is the usual way to get a bigger price on a player you expect to win.
Match winner
Pick who wins the match. There are only two outcomes.
Heavy favourites pay little. Look for value where form and surface tell a different story from the ranking.
Set betting
Predict the exact set score, such as 2-0 or 2-1. It pays more than match winner because it's harder to get right.
Useful when you expect the favourite to win but think the underdog can take a set.
Total games
Bet over or under a line for the total number of games played in the match.
Two strong servers often mean tie-breaks and a high total.
Game handicap
One player gets a head start in games. On a −3.5 line, the favourite has to win by four games or more.
A way to get a better price on a clear favourite.
First set winner
Pick who wins the first set. The bet settles early in the match.
Some players start slowly in the early rounds of a tournament.
Live game winner
Bet on who wins the next game while the match is being played.
Break points move these prices sharply.
Reading odds
How do tennis odds work?
With only two players, the two prices tell you how the market sees the match. Divide 1 by the odds to get the implied chance: a favourite at 1.25 is 80% and an underdog at 4.00 is 25%. Those add up to 105%, and the extra 5% is the margin.
Those two chances add up to 105%, a little over 100%. The extra is the margin, which is how the book earns.
Back ₹400 on the underdog at 4.00 and a win returns ₹1,600. Lay the same player for ₹400 and your liability is ₹1,200, which the bet slip shows before you confirm.
Heavy favourites pay little. Set betting and game handicaps are the usual way to get a bigger price on a player you expect to win.
Odds calculator
Hard vs clay vs grass
How does the surface change a tennis bet?
Clay is slow and rewards stamina and topspin. Grass is fast and suits big servers. Hard courts are medium-paced and suit all-round players, as at the Australian and US Opens, while Roland Garros is clay and Wimbledon grass. A player's record on the surface they're playing on can matter more than their overall ranking.
| Surface | Speed | Who it suits | Big events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard | Medium | All-round players | Australian Open, US Open, ATP Finals |
| Clay | Slow | Baseliners with stamina and topspin | Roland Garros, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome |
| Grass | Fast | Big servers and net players | Wimbledon, Queen's, Halle |
Grand Slams and tours
Which tennis tournaments can I bet on?
You can bet on all four Grand Slams, from the Australian Open in January to the US Open in late summer, plus ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 events, both tour finals, and most 250 and 500 events. At the Grand Slams, men play best of five sets and women best of three.
January
Australian Open
Hard court
Late May to June
Roland Garros
Clay
Late June to July
Wimbledon
Grass
Late August to September
US Open
Hard court
Best of three or five? At the Grand Slams, men play best of five sets and women play best of three. At most other events, both play best of three. Check the format before you bet on set scores or total games.
- ATP Masters 1000
- WTA 1000
- ATP Finals
- WTA Finals
- Most 250 events
- Most 500 events
Settlement
What happens if a player retires?
It depends on when it happens. If a player retires or is disqualified after at least one full set, the player who goes through wins the match winner bet. Before the first set is finished, match winner bets are void. Set and game markets that were already decided stand either way.
Set and game markets that were already decided stand either way. For any other market, check its rules or ask support on WhatsApp before you bet.
Full settlement rulesAfter at least one full set
The player who goes through wins the match winner bet.
Before the first set is finished
Match winner bets are void and stakes are returned.
Markets already decided
A finished set or game stands, whenever the retirement happens.
Live tennis
What moves tennis odds during a match?
Breaks of serve move tennis odds most, and can swing the match price within seconds. Live markets lock while each point is played and reopen at the new price. First-serve percentage, medical timeouts, tie-breaks, which are close to even whatever the ranking gap, and wind or heat move prices too.
01
Breaks of serve
The biggest mover. One break can swing the match price within seconds.
02
Points in play
Live markets lock while a point is played and reopen at the new price once it's over.
03
First-serve percentage
Watch it in the opening games. A player missing first serves is under pressure in every service game.
04
Medical timeouts
A timeout can be a sign that a player is struggling physically.
05
Tie-breaks
Tie-breaks are close to even, whatever the ranking gap.
06
Wind and heat
Bad conditions hurt players who rely on timing.
Getting started
How do I place my first tennis bet?
Get your ID on WhatsApp, deposit ₹100 or more by UPI or bank transfer from an account in your own name, then log in, open Tennis and choose a match. Check each player's record on that surface, start with match winner at a stake you can afford to lose, check the price on the slip, and confirm.
- 1
Step 1 of 4
Get your ID on WhatsApp
Message the official number and pick a username. Your login details arrive in the same chat.
- 2
Step 2 of 4
Add funds
Deposit ₹100 or more by UPI or bank transfer from an account in your own name, then send the UTR or a screenshot in the chat.
- 3
Step 3 of 4
Pick a match
Log in, open Tennis and choose a match. Check each player's record on that surface before you pick a market.
- 4
Step 4 of 4
Start with match winner
Back a player at a stake you can afford to lose, check the price on the bet slip, then confirm.
18+ only
Before you place anything.
Betting carries financial risk and can become addictive. You must be 18 or over. Online betting laws differ from state to state in India, so check the rules where you live.
Responsible gaming tools- 1Decide what you can afford to lose before the first serve, and stop when you reach it.
- 2Don't chase losses with bigger stakes.
- 3Set a deposit limit by day, week or month. Support can add one for you.
- 4If betting stops being fun, ask support to pause or close your ID.
Sources
Where to check the facts.
- ATP TourRankings, results and the men's tour calendar. (opens in a new tab)
- WTARankings, results and the women's tour calendar. (opens in a new tab)
- ITFThe official Rules of Tennis. (opens in a new tab)
These sites open in a new tab. King Exchange is not affiliated with them.
Answers
Tennis betting: your questions
Short answers on draws, set betting, retirements, game handicaps, tournaments and live betting.
8 questions
No. Every tennis match has a winner, so the match winner market has only two outcomes.
Markets open before the first serve
Ready for the next serve.
Ask for your ID on WhatsApp and you can be on a tennis market in a few minutes. 18+ only. Betting carries financial risk, so set a budget first.
- Pre-match and live markets
- Deposits from ₹100
- Same ID as cricket