Tennis Betting Guide: How to Bet on Tennis in Australia

Tennis betting runs almost all year, from the Australian summer in January to the ATP and WTA Finals in November, and it suits punters who like a simple two-way market with no draw. This guide explains the main tennis betting markets, how match formats change them, how to place a bet and how to bet the Australian Open.

Tennis Betting Markets Explained

Head to head (match winner): Back the player you think will win the match. There is no draw in tennis, so it is a simple two-way market, and it is where most tennis bets are placed.

Set betting: Pick the exact score in sets, such as 2-1 or 3-1. It pays far more than the match winner because you need the right winner and the right number of sets.

Game handicap: One player gets a head start in games. If the favourite is -4.5, they must win at least five more games than their opponent across the whole match. It is the main way to get a better price on a strong favourite.

Set handicap: The same idea with sets. Backing an underdog at +1.5 sets in a best-of-three match wins if they take at least one set.

Total games: Bet on whether the match will go over or under a set number of games. Two big servers tend to produce tiebreaks and high totals, while a mismatch on a slow court tends to finish quickly.

First set winner: Back the winner of the opening set only. Useful when you expect a player to start fast but are less sure they will finish the job.

Player specials: Markets such as total aces, double faults and whether a tiebreak will be played. Ranges vary between bookmakers, so compare before you bet.

Tournament outrights: Back a player to win the tournament, reach the final or win their section of the draw. Some bookmakers offer each way terms on outrights, usually paying a fraction of the odds if your player reaches the final. Terms vary, so check before you bet.

Same game multi (SGM): Combine markets from one match, such as the winner, set betting and total games, into one bet. See our same game multi guide.

How Match Formats Change Your Bet

Format matters more in tennis than in most sports, because it changes how often the better player wins.

Event	Format	What it means for betting
Men’s Grand Slam singles	Best of five sets	Favourites win more often over five sets, and set betting has six outcomes.
Women’s Grand Slam singles	Best of three sets	More scope for upsets, and set betting has four outcomes.
ATP and WTA tour events	Best of three sets	Shorter matches, so one hot set from an underdog can decide it.
Final set at all four Grand Slams	10-point tiebreak at 6-6	No marathon final sets, which caps the total games line.

How to Read Tennis Odds

Australian bookmakers show decimal odds, which include your stake. A $10 bet at $1.80 returns $18, an $8 profit. To turn a price into a percentage chance, divide 1 by the odds: $1.80 is about 56%, and a $1.20 favourite is about 83%. When a favourite is that short, the game handicap or set betting is usually a better way to back them.

How to Place a Tennis Bet

Step 1: Choose a licensed Australian bookmaker. We recommend Picklebet, Dabble, Neds, Ladbrokes or bet365.

Step 2: Register and verify your identity. You must be 18 or over.

Step 3: Deposit funds and set a deposit limit.

Step 4: Open the tennis section, choose the tournament, the match and the market.

Step 5: Add your selection to the bet slip, enter your stake and confirm before the match starts.

Betting on the Grand Slams

Tournament	When	Surface	Our coverage
Australian Open	January (2027 main draw: 17 to 31 January)	Hard	Australian Open tips
French Open	Late May to early June	Clay	French Open tips
Wimbledon	Late June to mid-July	Grass	Wimbledon tips
US Open	Late August to mid-September	Hard	US Open tips

The Australian Open is the biggest tennis betting event of the year in Australia, and the only major played in local time. The lead-up events in early January, including the Brisbane International and the United Cup, are the best guide to who arrives in Melbourne in form.

Tennis Betting Tips for Beginners

Check the surface: Results on hard courts, clay and grass vary widely. A player’s record on the surface they are playing on matters more than their overall ranking.

Watch the schedule: A player coming off a five-set match or a late finish can struggle in the next round, especially in back-to-back tournaments.

Factor in the conditions: Heat, wind and whether the roof is closed all change how a match plays. Melbourne in January can be extreme, and it raises the risk of retirements.

Read the retirement rules: Bookmakers settle retirements differently. Know your bookmaker’s rule before you bet, not after.

Set a budget: Decide what you can afford to lose each week, stick to it and never chase losses.

Live Tennis Betting in Australia

Live tennis betting is popular because momentum swings so quickly, but in Australia it can only be done by phone. Online in-play betting is banned under the Interactive Gambling Act, so bookmaker apps and websites close their markets when a match starts. Most major bookmakers take in-play tennis bets over the phone, on markets such as the match winner, the next set and total games.

Best Bookmakers for Tennis Betting

• Picklebet
• Dabble
• Neds
• Ladbrokes
• bet365

For full reviews and sign-up offers, see our best tennis betting sites guide.

Tennis Betting Guide FAQs

How do you bet on tennis?

Open an account with a licensed Australian bookmaker, choose a match or tournament in the tennis section and pick a market: match winner, set betting, game handicap or total games are the most common. Add it to your bet slip, enter your stake and confirm before the match starts.

What happens to my bet if a tennis player retires?

It depends on the bookmaker. Some settle match bets as long as a set has been completed, some void them, and some pay out on the player who advances. Check your bookmaker’s tennis rules before you bet, especially in the heat of an Australian summer when retirements are more common.

Can you bet live on tennis in Australia?

Yes, but only by phone. Online in-play betting is banned under the Interactive Gambling Act, so bookmaker apps and websites close their markets once a match starts. Most major bookmakers take live tennis bets over the phone.

What is set betting in tennis?

Set betting means picking the exact score in sets. A best-of-three match has four outcomes (2-0, 2-1, 1-2 and 0-2), and a men’s best-of-five Grand Slam match has six.

What is a game handicap in tennis betting?

A game handicap gives one player a head start in games. If a favourite is -4.5 games, they must win at least five more games than their opponent across the match for the bet to win.

What is the best bet in tennis?

In a lopsided match the head to head price is often too short to be worth it, so the game handicap, set betting or total games markets usually offer better value. In a close match, backing the winner straight up is simplest.

Where can I find free tennis tips?

BettingPro publishes free tips for every Grand Slam on our tennis hub, starting with our Australian Open tips, plus regular tennis multi tips.

Best Tennis Bookmakers in Australia

Looking for the best bookmakers to bet on tennis? Our top-rated Australian bookmakers for tennis betting are Picklebet, Dabble, Neds, Ladbrokes and bet365.

For our latest tennis tips and predictions, visit our tennis tips hub. Looking for the best tennis betting sites? Check our betting sites guide. For same game multi tips, visit our SGM tips page.

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