When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn The ATP Tour is the premier worldwide tennis tour for men. Organized by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the tour comprises the ATP Finals, ATP Masters 1000, ATP 500, and ATP 250 tournaments. Grand Slam events also heavily contribute towards ATP ranking points.
The biggest players and rising stars of the men’s game compete in these games and there are numerous advantages to betting on an ATP match. Read on as we teach you how to bet on ATP tour matches and reveal our best strategies.
How to Bet on ATP Events
Head to the tennis section of your favorite sports betting site and click on the ATP event you want to bet on. A simple first bet for new players is backing the winner of a match.
After you have made a few different bets you’ll be able to use the betting strategies and tips outlined further down this ATP betting guide to move on to more advanced types of bets and markets. The aim is to extract value from the ATP tennis betting odds available so it may be wise to shop around a few different sportsbooks.
Looking for one of the best ATP finals betting sites? Head straight to BetOnline.
Real-World Example of an ATP Tennis Bet
Here we are going to look at a real-world example of an ATP tennis bet using BetOnline. The photo below depicts odds on a match between Dane Sweeny and Luca Nardi at the Australian Open.
Luca Nardi is the favorite because his odds are indicated by a negative (-) value of -277, with Sweeny the underdog as his odds are indicated by a positive (+) value of +232. Backing Sweeny to spring a surprise would see a $100 stake return a potential payout of $332. Going with the favorite Nardi would see a $100 stake return a potential payout including stake of $136.10.
As the match is a straight knockout there has to be a winner and in the event of a player pulling out through injury they would lose the bet. However, some bookmakers may push in this scenario, meaning your stake would be refunded, so it is always best to check terms and conditions on site.
Types of ATP Tennis Bets
The best sports betting sites will offer you a host of different types of ATP tennis bets and markets to bet on. Below we’ve detailed some of the most popular bet types and explained how they work.
Match Winner
One of the most popular types of tennis bets, match winner is as simple as it sounds – you’ll be backing the winner of a match. This is a great choice of bet for new players because it is straightforward: you will either win the bet if your player is victorious, or lose the bet if your player loses.
Set Bets
There are a number of different set bets you can sink your teeth into. One of the best is correct score, where you try to pick the exact score in a set, for example 6-0 to Player A. You can also bet on the set score after two games, four games or six games as well as the player who will win the set.
Other set bets include a player to win at least one set or whether a player trailing by one set will come back and win the match. You can bet on the overall set betting, say 2-0 to Player A. The odds of these bets multiply greatly if they are combined into a parlay (more on that later).
Handicaps
Handicap betting – also known as the spread, particularly with US-targeted sportsbooks- aims to provide players with more value by adjusting the perceived gap in ability between players. For example if a player has a -1.5 set handicap then they would have to win by two sets for a bet on them to win. This type of handicap will usually be given to a heavy favorite.
Meanwhile, a +1.5 set handicap would mean a player could either win the match or lose by one set for a bet to come in and will usually be given to an unfancied underdog. The idea is to level the playing field and provide a range of different bets for bettors to tackle.
Totals
Totals – also referred to as over/under bets – allow players to bet on various different total amounts in a match. The most obvious is betting on over or under a certain amount to be the total number of games that occur in a match.
You could also bet over/under the total amount of games in a set, with usual options of 8.5, 10.5 and 12.5. Some sites will also offer total games in a set through a range, such as 6-8 games, 9-10 games, or 11 games or more.
There is also an option to predict how many sets will be played in the match (best of three), either two sets for a straight-sets victory or three sets.
These bets are often favored by players who think they can find value in determining the intensity and duration of a match, rather than more conventional methods.
Tiebreaks
Tiebreak betting will usually come in a simple yes or no format to a question such as will there be a tie-break in the first set? This is a small side market but can be particularly exciting when two very even players go into a tiebreak at the end of a set.
Tournament Winner
Backing the outright tournament winner is one of the most popular types of tennis bets because it provides interest over the longer term. Picking the correct player to win an ATP event weeks or even months before the competition starts is no mean feat and can come with some generous odds.
Parlays
Parlay bets combine two or more selections into one larger bet in order to greatly increase the value of the odds on your bet slip. To win a parlay bet you need every selection to win and if even one pick doesn’t win the whole bet will fail.
You may want to back four favorites in the first round of an ATP event to progress and by adding them all into a parlay you’ll find the odds far more attractive. This adds to your betting excitement as you watch each match you have selected.
ATP Finals betting sites will sometimes offer Same Game Parlays just because it is a major event. This means you can bet on multiple selections from a single match.
Prop Bets
Prop bets aren’t tied to the outcome of a game but instead refer to a player’s performance or another aspect of the game aside from result. Examples of player props include a player winning a set number of games in a match and betting on the over/under.
Game props can include whether a match will be played over two days or whether there will be an umpire violation.
How to do Live ATP Betting
Live betting is a relatively new phenomenon for tennis bettors to enjoy, allowing you to wager on a match and then watch on as the action unfolds in real time. The best online sportsbooks will continually update their ATP tennis betting odds during matches to entice players to bet.
Players like live betting – or in-play betting – because it allows them to assess the ebbs and flows of a match before parting with their cash. You might notice something in a player that makes you think they will go on to lose, even though they take the first few games. Also you can extract value in the odds by backing a losing player to come from behind to secure victory.
You can bet on a host of different things in live betting in just the same way as you can with regular betting, but also which player will win the next match or set or simply the outcome of a single point or game. With these live bets you have to get your bet in before the point starts as while each point is played the odds can change. Sportsbooks will often pull lines and markets and rehang them after the outcome of a point.
ATP Betting Tips and Strategies
As part of this comprehensive guide we have outlined some ATP betting strategies and tips for you to implement in order for you to make savvy bets and land more winners. You’ll even be able to develop an ATP betting strategy of your own.
Know the Form and Fitness of Players
You need to keep on top of the form and fitness of a huge selection of players to be successful with ATP betting. This is because the pool of talent for some of the tournaments stretches a lot thinner than Grand Slams for example. Often little-known players will win ATP events so spotting them building form can be particularly lucrative. You need to be aware of injuries and how that will affect the odds too.
Given the ATP Tour takes place over the whole calendar year this is quite a task, so perhaps hone in on certain competitions to focus on with your betting.
Understand the Playing Surface
Depending on what surface the ATP event you want to bet on is played on will have a big impact on which players are favored. Everyone knows Roger Federer loved grass and Rafael Nadal is the clay king, but lower down the pecking order who suits what terrain?
Players always have a preferred surface that they get better results on so knowing this going into a tournament can put you at a huge advantage.
Use Multiple Sportsbooks
Having multiple accounts across many sportsbooks is a big benefit because it allows you to compare odds before you make a wager. You’ll also be able to maximize any welcome bonuses available to new players at different sites, as well as any regular promotions for existing players.
Examine Head-to-Head Results
If you are betting on a match it pays to know how the two players have got on in previous clashes. Perhaps you can unearth knowledge that one player tends to dominate another on hard outdoor courts, or that best-of-three matches favor one of the players more than another.
Consider the Rankings
The ATP rankings are the merit-based method used by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for determining the qualification of entry and seedings of players in all singles and doubles tournaments.
If a player is riding high in the rankings that indicates they are in good form and could be a strong selection in a certain event. Below the Grand Slams, ranking points are awarded mostly for ATP Finals success, then descending for ATP Masters 1000, ATP 500 Series and ATP 250 Series.
Use All Available Statistics
There is so much statistical data and information available online related to ATP events that could be mined for betting insight. Players willing to dig deep for their research can be rewarded with pivotal knowledge on player serve percentages, error counts, break points, and more.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Place a Bet on the ATP Tennis
Betting on ATP tennis events is fairly simple but we understand novice bettors might want a helping hand. Using BetOnline as our example, we walk a new bettor through the basics of signing up and placing that first bet!
Register for an account
Head to BetOnline and click on the green “Join” button located at the top right of the homepage. Next, complete the sign up forms by proving your basic information. Once completed, verify your email address by following the link provided in the initial email from BetOnline.
Deposit and Claim a Bonus
Go to the cashier by clicking the green “DEPOSIT” button. The current BetOnline promo codes will be displayed in the top banner; be sure to note your preferred one. Then, choose a deposit method, enter a deposit amount, and enter your required banking details. Be sure to enter the promo code in the space provided if you wish to claim an offer.
Navigate to ATP Tennis events
Either search for “ATP” or use the intuitive side menu to navigate to the available ATP tennis markets. Find your preferred selection and click on it to send it to the bet slip.
Add to Bet Slip
Within the bet slip, you’ll be able to add your stake. You can also create a parlay by adding more selections.Place Your Bet
Once you are happy with your proposed bet and you’ve entered your stake, simply hit “Place Bet” to complete the wager.
Types of ATP Events
The ATP Tour runs a number of events around the top-tier Grand Slams, such as the ATP Finals, ATP Masters 1000, ATP 500 Series and ATP 250 Series, while the ATP Cup was discontinued in 2022.
Here we will look into the different events held under these tier of tournaments, how they work and their notable previous winners.
While the Grand Slams of tennis – the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open– are overseen by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) instead of the ATP, players still receive ATP ranking points based on their performances in them.
Ready to implement your ATP betting strategy? Find loads of markets at BetOnline.
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