Handicap betting is a betting technique which manages to even the odds throughout a sporting event, whether that be in a football match, cricket game or a tennis match. With handicap bets giving one player or side an advantage over another, this betting system can be used when a heavy favourite is playing against a lesser-ranked opponent. This means that even the most mismatched games can provide betting opportunities!
In this tennis game handicap betting guide, we will look at what tennis handicap betting is, the different examples of tennis handicap betting and how it works through real-life examples.
What Is Handicap Betting In Tennis?
The handicap betting system is a betting market which allows bettors to place a theoretical advantage on one of the players. Typically, this means that the higher-ranked player (the favourite) will start a couple of games down, whilst the underdog will start with an advantage, meaning they are theoretically beginning the match ahead of their opponent.
The handicap betting system can affect tennis in a wide variety of different ways, as it can mean that even if players lose the real-life fixture, they might still win according to the handicap bet. Odds are adjusted to give one player a head start, which can greatly influence the outcome of the bet, and these handicap bets usually give players games.
Whilst handicap betting is actually one of the most popular markets throughout tennis betting, we will look at some real-life examples of tennis handicap betting and how the odds and different match outcomes affect this betting market.
For those wondering what a game handicap is in tennis, this is simply the term they use for the handicap betting system, as other sports might use point or goal handicap as their term.
With the basics of the tennis game handicap betting covered, let’s take a dive into how these handicap bets work and how they can be used throughout your value betting strategies.
How Do Tennis Handicap Bets Work?
There are plenty of ways to place tennis handicap bets, however they all follow the same principles, which is that one player gets a head start over the other.
When looking at how handicap betting works in tennis, we can think about it in two different ways, with one being that the handicap is applied before the game, and the other being that the handicap is applied after the game is finished.
- Points are adjusted before the game begins. For the tennis example, we will use Jannik Sinner against Jack Draper. Let’s say Jack Draper has a handicap of 2.5. This means the game will start with Jack Draper being 2.5 games ahead, effectively making it three games ahead, as you cannot win half a game.
- Points are adjusted after the game finishes – If the games finish 3-6, 6-4 and 6-3 to Sinner, then Sinner will have won a total of 15 games with 6 in the second and third and 3 in the first, and Jack Draper will have won 13 with 6 in the first, 4 in the second and 3 in the last. However, with the handicap of 2.5, this will take his total to 15.5, therefore making Draper the winner.
Whilst most handicap betting markets in other sports can end up in ties, tennis matches are played until there is a winner, meaning there can be no draw option. Here is a quick table to show how different results of the match would affect the handicap bets:
As a tie is not possible in tennis, there is no option for a tie when placing handicap bets on tennis. If you are looking for other betting markets which involve unique options, you can check out our matched betting blog available on the site.
It is also important to remember that games are not the only thing you can bet on; set handicaps are also available. This is typically seen in Grand Slam events, as these events will play with 5 sets instead of the traditional 3.
Tennis Handicap Betting Examples
Tennis handicap bets can come in a handful of different ways, so we are going to look through some of the most popular ways that you can place these unique bets, and what different match results will affect the handicap bets.
Using this example from Bet365, we can see that there is a handicap bet available for an ATP matchup between Jannik Sinner and Tommy Paul. With Jannik Sinner being the heavy favourite, Bet365 are offering a handicap bet for Tommy Paul to have a handicap of 5.5, meaning he will effectively begin the game 5.5 games ahead of his opponent.
Unlike what we see in other examples, such as our rugby handicap betting guide, there are no 3-way handicap betting options as tennis matches cannot end in a draw, meaning bettors only have the option to bet on one of the two players winning.
As you can see in the example above, Bet365 is offering to give a handicap of 5.5 to Tommy Paul for his match against Sinner, meaning the player will start with a 5.5-game head start according to the bet. We will go through what would need to happen throughout the match for the different outcomes of the handicap bet to occur.
Using this example, let’s go through the different results of the match and what bet would be successful throughout the match.
As Sinner is the clear favourite in this ATP match-up, we can see that Bet365 are offering a handicap for Tommy Paul with the odds of 1/1. Whilst the odds for Tommy Paul to win the fixture might not be as impressive as they would be for a simple match result, there is more chance of this handicap bet coming in, as Paul can still lose the match and the bet can still be successful, due to the handicap. Whilst the handicap can sometimes be altered to different values, these can affect the odds greatly and usually make them less favourable, or make the handicap margin too great, meaning we recommend researching the match-up before using handicap betting.
Tennis Set Handicap Betting
Betting on games is not the only way that handicaps work, as bettors can also place set handicap bets. In a normal ‘ best of three’ set match, the set handicap will usually be placed at +1.5 sets or -1.5 sets. This is because the winner of the match only needs to win two sets to be victorious.
To use an example, let’s say Zverev plays against De Minaur, and Zverev is placed at -1.5, while De Minaur is placed at +1.5, as Zverev would be the favourite. If the game finished 2-1 to Zverev, then placing the bet on De Minaur would still result in a successful bet, as the handicap would mean that De Minaur has technically won 2.5 sets compared to Zverev’s one.
On the other hand, if you placed the bet on Zverev, then you would need the player to win 2-0 for the bet to be successful.
As this betting style is typically used for 3-set games, it also appears in the 5-set handicap betting, which occurs in the Grand Slam tournaments of Tennis. Not only can you place +1.5 and -1.5 handicaps, but you can also place +2.5 and -2.5 handicaps, meaning players would have to dominate the game 3-0 for the handicap not to overrule the score.
How To Use The Tennis Handicap
With handicap betting being so popular throughout the tennis betting market, it is a selection that can be incredibly popular when there is a mismatch, which happens often in ATP and Grand Slam events due to the nature of the draw in Tennis. Whilst handicap betting is not something we see throughout matched betting, it is a betting technique that can be extremely viable in tennis and sports betting.
For those interested in learning about more tennis sports betting tips, check out our tennis betting guide, which is full of all sorts of betting techniques. Here, we are going to look through some tips that can help you make the most of your tennis handicap bets.
Lesser-known Competitions – There are plenty of tennis tournaments taking place around the world, whether that be ATP 250 or ATP 500 events that the superstars do not usually play in. With these betting markets available, you can find some great valued handicap bets throughout lesser-known competitions.
Don’t be afraid to back the Favourite – Whilst the handicap betting system might seem perfect to back the lower-ranked players, it can also be used to back the favourites. If you expect one of the top players to play incredibly well and to win the game by a large margin, then using the handicap betting system can give you better odds compared to traditional match result betting.
Do Your Research – When betting on tennis matches, it is extremely important to do your research, not only on the players themselves, but also on how they perform on different court surfaces, if they are carrying any injuries and their head-to-head record against their opponent. All these different aspects can be extremely important to gaining an advantage when placing your handicap bets.
Tennis Handicap Vs Other Handicaps
Tennis handicap betting is quite different from other sporting handicaps because it is an individual sport. This means upsets can be quite common compared to sports such as football and rugby. There is also no possibility for draws and ties, meaning the tennis game handicap betting system is close to the Asian handicap betting system.
There is no difference between tennis handicap and tennis asian handicap betting, as there is no possibility for draws, meaning they are both the exact same form of betting. If you are interested in learning more about the Asian handicap, check out our Asian handicap betting guide on the site.
Here, we are going to look at some of the positives and negatives of the tennis handicap betting that you can take into account before you place any handicap bets.
✅Handicap betting can be used frequently throughout tennis, as mismatches happen all the time throughout tournaments
✅Handicap bets can offer better odds compared to other traditional betting forms
✅No draws or ties in tennis, meaning there is only 2-way handicap betting available
❌More complicated compared to other betting strategies
❌Requires plenty of strategy and research
Tennis Handicap FAQS
As handicap betting can be quite a confusing topic, we are going to look through some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to Tennis handicap betting.
What Is The Difference Between Tennis Handicap Betting And Tennis Asian Handicap Betting?
The difference between handicap betting and Asian handicap betting is that Asian handicap betting does not allow for draws to be included, as the handicaps operate with decimal numbers. As a tie or draw is not available throughout tennis, Asian handicap and traditional handicap betting for tennis are theoretically the same thing.
Where Can I Find Tennis Handicap Bets?
To find handicap bets, you must first go to your bookmaker’s site and then find tennis. Using Bet365 as an example, we are going to look down the list at the left-hand side of the screen, which displays the different sports that are available to bet on.
Then, you can use the navigation bar at the top of the selections to find the available betting markets. Here, you will be able to find handicaps for games won, and potentially handicaps for sets won if your tournament format plays with 5-set games.
Why Should I Use The Tennis Handicap Betting System?
The handicap betting system is one of the most popular betting markets in tennis, and it is so popular due to the nature of the tournament-style draw in tennis. With top-seeded players coming up against unranked and lower-seeded players, this creates a perfect opportunity for handicap bets to be placed.
Whether you are looking to place a bet on the underdog or the favourite, handicap bets can boost the odds and allow for fascinating betting opportunities. Whether you think the favourite is going to win by a huge margin or maybe the underdog only loses by a small amount, these are some of the reasons why handicap bets are used.
