What is Set Betting in Tennis?
When it comes to sports betting, even the most novice bettors may be familiar with terms like moneylines, spreads, and totals. But often, those bettors associate those terms with team sports like football or basketball, and may be unaware of how those terms or concepts can be applied to tennis.
There are many different ways to bet on tennis, and this article goes into further depth about “What is Set Betting in Tennis?”
What is Set Betting in Tennis?
Let’s explore the question “what is a Set Betting in tennis?”
How tennis betting is similar to other sports?
Even though tennis is not a team sport, the concepts of moneylines, spreads, and totals still apply.
Below is a graphic of pre-match odds between Novak Djokovic and Alejandro Tabilo. Note the moneyline odds available for both players, where one would simply be betting on a player to win the match outright.
The “total games” section is akin to an O/U in a team sport, where one is betting on the score of a match in terms of how many games will be played. Instead of offering just one flat total, DraftKings allows bettors to toggle through different totals at varying odds.
The “games spread” section is the closest to a team sports’ against the spread odds. In tennis, this is viewed as a games handicap, where Djokovic is favored to win 4.5 more games over the course of the match than Tabilo.
What is a “Set Betting” Wager?
Set betting in tennis is a more precise way to predict the exact outcome of the match, which often leads to better odds and the chance at a more profitable payday if one is correct.
These are the set betting odds for the same Djokovic vs. Tabilo match as above. Many bettors would scoff at the idea of having to lay -600 odds (meaning one would have to bet $600 to profit $100) to back Djokovic to win outright. However, if bettors thought Djokovic would turn in a dominant performance and win in straight sets, those -200 odds for the 2:0 option could become much more appealing.
All four scenarios for how the match could play out are included, with odds varying accordingly.
The Difference for Grand Slam Tournaments
All women’s tennis matches, regardless if the match is a smaller tournament or a Grand Slam, is a best-of-three-set scenario. Thus, all set betting options for those matches would be similar to the Djokovic-Tabilo match above, with two scenarios (to win in straight sets or three sets) for both player.
The odds can get pretty crazy in a Grand Slam Tournament in the Men’s Draw. Those matches are best-of-five sets, meaning there are six total scenarios with each player having odds to win in three, four, or five sets. Those can make for amazing payouts, and can also take what may be exorbitant moneyline pre-match odds and make them much more affordable for bettors.
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.