📝 Post Summary
When betting on tennis, it's crucial to understand the retirement rules, as they can significantly impact your bets. If a player retires during a match, the outcome of your bet may vary depending on the specific bookmaker's rules, making it essential to know how they apply to avoid costly mistakes.
Tennis has been a popular sport for centuries, and with the rise of online betting, it has become an increasingly popular betting market. However, like all sports, tennis has its own set of rules and regulations that must be followed. One such set that sports bettors often overlook is the tennis retirement rules. Consequently, at OddsMonkey, we will break down what this is and how it could affect your tennis betting experience.
Understanding Tennis Betting
Firstly, let’s look at general tennis betting. Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it is also one of the most frequently bet on sports, both in regular betting and matched betting. Betting on tennis can be a fun and exciting way to enjoy the sport, particularly when supporting a certain player or pair that has been backed to win.
There are many different types of tennis bets that you can make, and each one has its own set of rules and strategies. Some of the most popular tennis bets include:
- Match Winner: Betting on which player will win the match.
- Set Winner: Betting on which player will win a particular set.
- Game Winner: Betting on which player will win a particular game.
- Total Games: Betting on the total number of games that will be played in a match.
When betting on tennis, it is important to understand the rules of the game and the strategies you can use to make the most of your betting. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that tennis matches can be unpredictable, and anything can happen on the court.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that players have different strengths and weaknesses, which can significantly impact a match’s outcome. For example, some players may be better on clay courts, while others may prefer grass courts.
One aspect of tennis betting you might not be familiar with is the tennis retirement rule, which we will discuss here.
What Is A Tennis Retirement?
The tennis retirement rule in terms of tennis betting refers to what happens when a player retires from a match due to injury or other reasons. This rule is important to understand because it can significantly impact the outcome of a bet. In some cases, a retirement can result in a void bet, while in others, the bet will stand. Understanding the retirement rule of the specific bookmaker you use is crucial for any bettor who wants to make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
When it comes to tennis betting, the retirement rule can be confusing, especially for those who are new to the sport. In this article, we will take a closer look at the retirement rule and explain exactly how it works. We also have an in-depth article on tennis betting markets explained, if you would like further details.
Tennis Retirement Rules
Tennis retirement rules are an essential part of tennis betting. The rules are designed to ensure that bets are settled correctly in the event of a player retiring from a match. The retirement rules vary by bookmaker, but some general principles apply across the industry.
In tennis, a player can retire from a match for injury, illness, or other reasons. If a player retires before the match is completed, the result of the match will be determined by the bookmaker’s retirement rules. The rules will determine whether the bet is settled as a win, a loss, or void. Four rules are most common when it comes to tennis retirements, with this criteria widely used across the sports betting world.
First off is the ‘Ball Served’ rule. For the bet to stand, only one serve is required in the match. That means that if a player retires (due to an injury, for example) at any time after the first serve, the bet stands with the bookies that have this rule on tennis. Let’s look at some instances where this bet would and wouldn’t be viable.
| When Was The Retirement? | Is The Bet Valid? |
| In The Warm Up | No |
| In The First Set | Yes |
| In The Final Set | Yes |
Another rule is the ‘1 Set Completed’ criterion. For the bet to stand, at least one set needs to be completed in the match. That means that if a player retires after one set has been completed, the bet stands. However, if a player retires before one set has been completed, the bet is void (cancelled), and you will get your stake back. Let’s look at another table that showcases when the bet is voided.
| When Was The Retirement? | Is The Bet Valid? |
| In The Warm Up | No |
| In The First Set | No |
| In The Final Set | Yes |
The ‘Match Completed’ rule is another one used for tennis betting. The entire match must be completed for the bet to stand. A player can’t retire without the bet being void. This effectively means that there cannot be any retirements, and the match must be played out in its entirety.
Lastly, there is the ‘Match Completed, except if a disqualification’ rule. This works similarly to the last one: the entire match must be completed for the bet to stand. This stands true except in the case of a player being disqualified. If this occurs, the bet will be settled as a winner if the player progresses to the next round.
It is essential to understand the tennis retirement rules of the bookmaker before placing any bets on tennis matches. This will help to avoid any confusion or disputes in the event of a player retiring from a match.
Impact Of Retirement On Tennis Betting
Retirement is common in tennis, and it can significantly impact tennis betting. When a player retires from a match, the betting market rules change, which can affect the odds and the potential outcome of the bet.
Main Outcomes of Retirements In Tennis:
- Bet Can Be Voided
- Affecting Odds
- Affecting Bet Strategy
One of the most significant impacts of retirement on tennis betting is that the bet is often voided. This means that the bettor’s stake is returned, and the bet is cancelled. However, some bookmakers have different rules, and they may declare a winner based on the current score or the number of sets played.
Retirement can also affect the odds of a match. If a player retires before the match starts, the odds may change significantly. This is because the bookmakers will need to adjust their odds to reflect the fact that one of the players is no longer playing. If a player retires during the match, the odds will also change, but the extent of the change will depend on the score and the stage of the match.
Another impact of retirement on tennis betting is that it can affect the bettor’s strategy. If a player retires, the bettor may need to adjust their strategy to reflect the new odds and the potential outcome of the bet. For example, if a player retires, the bettor may need to place a new bet on the remaining player to win the match. Whether you do not place tennis bets often, or you use the sport for value betting, then you need to make sure you look out for retirements, as this can affect your betting.
How Common Is Retirement In Professional Tennis?
When looking at how often retirements happen in games, you might think it would not be a huge amount, but in a study from 2024, 2.11% of retirements were found in ATP tour matches, meaning they are not as infrequent as you may think.
In Grand Slam matches, this reached a 5.5% total in 2017, meaning it is definitely worth knowing the rules of retirements.
Bookmakers Tennis Retirement Rules
When it comes to tennis betting as a whole, it is worth noting that different bookmakers have different sets of tennis retirement rules. Although they follow a general outline, each site may include additional specific criteria. Here are the retirement rules for some of the top UK bookmakers:
Bet365 Tennis Retirement Rules
The Bet365 tennis retirement rules state that if a player retires from a match, it counts as a loss of 2 sets in a best-of-3 or 3 sets in a best-of-5. This then impacts your bet: if you had the unretired player to win and there were 2 sets up at the time, your selection would win; but if your selection were already losing, it would either be a tie or a loss.
Bet365 offers a Tennis Retirement Guarantee promotion in which bets placed on a player who retires due to injury will be settled as void, and your stake will be returned. This is important to understand, should you have any Bet365 free bets you may wish to use on the tennis. If you are interested in learning about these free bets, check out our Bet365 free bets explained blog.
Ladbrokes Tennis Retirement Rules
The Ladbrokes tennis retirement rules state that if a player retires before the first set is completed, the bet is voided.
William Hill Tennis Retirement Rules
William Hill, tennis retirement rules state that if any player retires from an in-play match in which 2 games of a set have been completed, the bet will be voided; however, if the first 2 games of the set are played, they will not be voided and will instead be settled as a loss. Noting criterion is great, should you have any William Hill free bets available! You can learn how to use William Hill free bets with our detailed guide on the site.
Betfred Tennis Retirement Rules
In the Betfred tennis retirement rules, it is stated that in any match which ends before the completion of the first set, the bet is voided. Still, in the event of retirement during a handicap bet selection, the bet will be settled as void, assuming that there is no conceivable way the game could be played to its original conclusion.
Coral Tennis Retirement Rules
Coral tennis retirement rules state that if a player retires before the completion of the first set, the bet is voided.
Paddy Power Tennis Retirement Rules
If you decide to use the Paddy Power tennis retirement rules, these vary depending on the tournament type, the time of requirement, and the marketplace. For example, these rules state that if a Match Odds bet is placed on an ATP game and the retirement occurs after the 1st set, the bet is a winner.
On the other hand, a match odds bet placed on a WTA game in which a retirement occurs during the 1st set will be voided. Yet again, the criterion is crucial to make a note of when using any Paddy Power free bets on these events.
Sky Bet Tennis Retirement Rules
There are two sides to the Sky Bet tennis retirement rules: one for outrights and one for single-match bets. For outright bets, if a player retires before the match, the bet is voided; for single-match bets, it depends on the time of retirement.
Tennis Matched Betting At OddsMonkey
Now that you understand how tennis retirement rules work, you may be wondering how you can apply this to your overall strategy. Here at OddsMonkey, we can provide you with all the best tools and guides to begin your tennis matched betting journey! Why not check out our free trial to get yourself started? Matched betting is one of the best side hustles currently out there, with this strategy involving backing both sides of an outcome to ensure you lock in a profit regardless of the result.
For more information on matched betting and sports betting in general, feel free to browse our dedicated matched betting blog.
Tennis Betting Retirements FAQS
As the tennis retirement rule can affect betting in many ways, it usually comes with plenty of frequently asked questions, which we will explore here.
If A Tennis Player Retires, Is The Bet Void?
This completely depends on which bookmaker you are placing bets with, as some bookmakers will void the bet and others will allow for the bet to be paid out. This can also depend on the rules of the bet, as some require a certain number of sets to be played before the bet can be successful.
What Does Retired Mean In Tennis?
Retired in Tennis means that the player has withdrawn from the match, and the match is finished, with the opponent advancing through the tournament. Retirements usually occur when a player is injured during the match, and are different from a disqualification, which can happen for poor conduct.
How Does A Walkover Compare To Retirement In Tennis
A walkover is when a tennis player advances to the next round without having to play their opponent. A walkover usually occurs because the other player is injured in training, whereas a retirement occurs when the player is injured during the match.
