As the 2023 ATP Tour begins and the Australian Open is underway, tennis punters eagerly place their bets. To ensure that you make informed decisions when betting on tennis matches, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the game and tennis betting markets.
The below guide features critical concepts that can help you improve your knowledge of tennis betting so that you can make wise wagers and perhaps even win big.
The most important concept to understand when it comes to tennis betting is understanding the different types of bets available.
For example, match-winner bets are based on predicting which player will win a particular match; set-winner bets involve choosing who will take each individual set in a match; handicap/spread betting involves assigning one player with virtual points at the start of a match; outright winner markets involve predicting which player or team will win an entire tournament; and many more.
But what happens to our bets when a tennis player retires or leaves the tournament?
Tournament Withdrawals
In a typical tennis tournament, it is not uncommon to see one of the players abandon the match due to an injury. This can be a very unfortunate event; however, depending on which player leaves the match, it can drastically change the entire scenario of the tournament.
The player who was forced out of the game due to injury may have been a top seed in their division and had they stayed in, they may have been a serious contender for first place or even won if they were far enough ahead in points at that point.
The person’s departure from the game will cause other players to be promoted up through higher rankings with the hopes of taking over where that player left off.
How does this affect betting?
When it comes to betting on tennis, understanding each bookmaker’s rules and regulations is critical to ensure you understand how any outcome will affect your wager. Withdrawals from tennis matches can be tricky for bettors as different bookmakers have their own rules about how these situations should be handled.
Bettors need to stay up-to-date on their preferred bookmaker’s policy to know what to expect when a player withdraws from a game.
Generally, most bookmakers will void all bets if a player withdraws from an ATP or WTA match before the start of play. However, some may treat retirements during the match differently.
It can be a nerve-wracking experience to lay down money before a match starts, not knowing if you’ll get your money back or not if something happens during the game.
Fortunately, most reputable sportsbooks offer clear policies that state they will return all wagers and void any bets should a player withdraw from a game before its conclusion.
This assurance allows bettors to feel secure about placing bets on tennis matches. The bookmakers understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise and make it impossible for players to finish their games – weather conditions, injury, illness – so they guarantee the return of all money wagered when these events occur.
Decision based on the first set
If a player folds after completing the first set of a match, then some bookmakers use this result to determine betting results. This is known as ‘settlement,’ where bets are calculated and paid out according to what happened in the match.
It can be a valuable way for bookmakers to avoid unnecessary risk and provide certainty for punters who have placed bets on the outcome of the match.
Decisions based on the one who advances
Some bookmakers will decide the outcome based on who would have advanced to the next round if the match had continued.
This ruling can be particularly beneficial for bettors in certain situations. For instance, if one player was substantially ahead when their opponent withdrew due to injury or any other reason, that could guarantee the bettor’s winnings even though there was no actual finish to the match.
This ruling can also help protect against bad luck or unexpected circumstances during a match that could potentially cost bettors money they had previously wagered.