How to Bet on Tennis Online in South Africa
Here are the practical steps you should follow to start betting on tennis in South Africa:
Select the Right Sportsook
Betting on tennis online is actually not that complicated, but doing it in the right way is important. First of all, you’ll want to select the right online sportsbook or betting website. The non-negotiable here is that you choose a licensed South African bookmaker. The license is crucial and it signifies that the operator is actually regulated by a provincial gambling board and you can actually hold them accountable if something goes awry. If you were to select an offshore or unregulated bookmaker, you would not be protected, as a consumer/customer, in the same way.
FICA Verification
After you’ve picked the right bookmaker for you, you will then have to complete something called FICA verification. This is mandatory for licensed bookmakers to do, and it protects you as well as the operator. For FICA verification, you may be asked to provide copies of documents such as your ID, address proof, utility bill, bank statements, etc. After you send the required documents, the operator will verify it and you’re good to go.
Make your First Deposit
It is now time to make your first deposit. South African bookmakers support EFT, debit or credit cards and mobile-friendly payment options as well. Use whatever you are familiar with and already have setup, but make sure you’re depositing from your own verified account so that withdrawals later are processed without any issues. You should not use cards or payment methods that are not registered in your name.
Select the Match
Now look for the tennis competition that you wish to bet on, it could be an ATP, WTA or Grand Slam event, and then pick the market you wish to bet on (we will explain the different markets in more detail later on this page). Initially, it is best to bet on straightforward markets. Match winner, total games or handicap are all decent options to start with. Now, go ahead and type in how much you wish to bet and before you confirm the betslip, check and verify that all the details are right.
Play it Safe
Every online bookmaker licensed in South Africa is required to verify your age before you can bet. Only players aged 18 or above can register for betting accounts. Always set a budget and stick to it, and make sure you don’t gamble more than you can afford to. If you or someone you know is facing gambling problems, please get professional support/counselling.
The Different Tennis Competitions You Can Bet On
If you’re going to bet on tennis properly, you need to understand a little bit about how the calendar works and what kind of tennis you’re actually watching or going to be betting on. As we mentioned earlier, tennis is a sport that spans the year, but different events have their own nuances that punters should take into account.
Things like the playing surfaces, formats and even time zones may affect things more than you know. Now, let’s go over some of the most prominent tennis tournaments and take a look at the different factors to consider when betting on these tournaments, since they may not always be the same for each tournament.
Grand Slams
The four Grand Slams, namely, the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open are the biggest events on the tennis calendar every year. They each come with their own quirks and nuances.
It all starts off in Australia where the courts are pretty hard and the summer heat can be a big factor in how players perform.
Roland Garros is up next and it is played on slower clay and it is not uncommon to see long rallies in these matches.
When it comes to Wimbledon, it is played on grass and things like the serves and volleys can really determine which way the match goes.
The US Open is known for quicker and harder surfaces.
Men play best-of-five sets in the Slams, women play best-of-three and just this one single difference can change how the markets behave quite a lot. Longer matches mean more time for form to balance out, so favourites are safer, but totals go much higher. In women’s matches, the volatility is usually higher, and just one bad serve can change the whole game and flip it on its head.
ATP & WTA Tours
The ATP and WTA tours also run throughout the year. Points earned in these tournaments decide rankings, seedings and entry to the bigger events too. There are levels such as 250s, 500s, and Masters and each one shall have its own intensity level. Many players will also be affected by travel fatigue during these tours, as the travel load is quite substantial. One week, a player could be playing at high altitude somewhere in South America, and in a few days, they may have to play at sea level in Europe. Many punters overlook these factors when betting on ATP and WTA matches.
Challenger & ITF Circuits
Below the main tours, there are the Challenger and ITF circuits. These are smaller events with less data available, which makes them riskier but also more beatable for punters who do their homework. Liquidity is low in these games, and the limits are smaller, and the prices move fast as well. But, if you are smart, then you can track a few players that are on the rise or getting back in form from an injury, and with such players, you could just find a few good odds before the rest of the market picks up on it and reacts to correct the odds.
Tennis Odds 101 - How the Decimal Prices Work
Before you can really start betting on tennis like a seasoned pro, you will need to understand what the numbers on the screen are actually conveying. Odds are basically numbers which tell you what the bookmaker thinks the chances of something happening or not happening are and they also tell you how much money you can get if you bet on a certain thing and it turns out to be right. In South Africa, most of the bookmakers will use decimal odds and most of the punters prefer this as well. The decimal odds are one of the simplest odds formats to read and understand.
A Worked Example
Let’s consider an example to fully understand what decimal odds mean and how to read them. If a player is listed at 1.80, it means for every R1 you stake, you will get R1.80 back if that player wins. So, that includes both your original stake and your profit. The formula to find out what the bookmaker is implying goes like this: Implied Probability = 1 / Odds. In this case, 1 divided by 1.80 gives 0.556, which means the bookmaker thinks the player has about a 55.6% chance to win the match.
Now, if another player is priced at 2.25, then you can apply the same formula again – 1 divided by 2.25 equals 0.444 and this means a 44.4% chance. So, when you look at both numbers side by side, they add up to just a little over 100%. That extra few percentage points are what’s known as the bookmaker’s margin or overround, and that’s how the bookmaker ends up making money in the long run, no matter who wins.
It’s also important to note that not all 1.80s are the same. The same price on a fast indoor court and a slow clay court can mean two quite different things. A player who relies on heavy serves and short points could be worth that 1.80 indoors, but on clay, the same odds might actually be inflated because longer rallies and slow bounce will take away that player’s advantages and strengths to a certain degree at least. So, the lesson here is to not look at odds just by themselves but to also consider the conditions, such as the surface, the weather, the matchups and more.
Main Tennis Betting Markets Explained and Made Simple
When you open the tennis page on a bookmaker’s site, you will notice a whole list of markets. All these numbers and markets can be overwhelming initially, but once you get a grasp of what the markets mean and how to read the odds, it all starts to come together and make sense for you. Unlike in football, tennis matches cannot end in draws, and so most markets are built around who wins, how many games they win by, or how long the match lasts.
Below are the main tennis betting markets you will come across again and again at online bookmakers as well as land-based bookmakers. By understanding these markets, you will know what bets to take based on your tennis intuition and knowledge, or just your hunch.
Match Winner (Moneyline)
This is the simplest bet you can make in tennis. You just bet on who you think will win the match and if that player wins, your bet wins and you get paid. There is no draw option. This market is popular because of the obvious reasons such as how simple and easy it is to understand and bet on. If Novak Djokovic is listed at 1.60 against Stefanos Tsitsipas, that means Djokovic is the favourite and if you bet on him to win, then you will be paid R1.60 for every R1 that you bet, if he wins the match.
Set Betting
Here, you predict the exact score of the match in sets, for example, 2–0 or 2–1 in a best-of-three. The odds here are usually higher because it is harder to get this right than just betting on who wins the match. In men’s Grand Slam matches, which are best-of-five, you can also find options like 3–1 or 3–2. This market makes is a good option if you feel that one of the players will win but the other is not going to make it easy and may win a set here and there.
Handicap (Games or Set Spread)
The handicap market is offered when there is quite a big difference between the two players and one is a clear favourite and the other is an underdog. In such cases, bets made on the weaker player are kind of balanced out by providing a head start in games or sets through the handicap betting market. For example, Nadal 4.5 games vs Ruud +4.5 games means Nadal has to win by at least five games in total for your bet to succeed. If the final score is 6–3 6–4, then Nadal wins by five games and covers the line. The handicap market could be a good option when the favourites odds are a little too short.
Total Games (Over/Under)
This market refers to the duration of the match in terms of total games played. The bookmaker sets a number, for example, Over 21.5 @ 1.87, and you shall decide whether the match will go over or under that number. If both players have strong serves, matches can easily stretch past this point. On slower surfaces like the clay ones, longer rallies are pretty common, and this can result in much higher totals even when the scores seem a bit one-sided.
First Set Winner
This is also a really simple market and all you have to do is bet on who you think will win the first set of the match. Some players are known for starting strong, but then fatigue sets in, and they struggle to finish strong. So, the first set winner market could work well when you’re betting on a match with such a player in it.
Outright or Tournament Winner
Here you bet on who will lift the trophy at the end of the week or the fortnight. These are long-term bets, and the draw strength and fatigue factor play a significant role in such bets. A player could look dominant in round one, but if their section of the draw is full of great serving players, then the path to victory could be much more complex than what the price may suggest.
Player Props
Some bookmakers in South Africa also offer smaller markets such as total aces, double faults, or service breaks. These can be fun, but limits are low and results can change quite fast, and so these are high volatility bets, but they are still fun once in a while.
Handicap and Totals – Broken Down with Examples
Once you’ve understood the basics of handicaps and totals, the next step is to observe how these markets actually work in real situations, because then you’ll slowly start mastering these markets little by little. Unlike team sports, tennis margins will not move wildly because things like serve consistency and surface speed, match format matter a lot in tennis matches.
The game handicap works by adding or subtracting a certain number of games from a player’s total to level the contest. For instance, Nadal −4.5 games vs Ruud +4.5 games means Nadal needs to win at least five more games than Ruud across all sets. If the score ends 6–4, 6–3, Nadal covers the line since he wins by five games. But if the match goes 7–6, 6–7, 6–4, he only wins by two games, and so the handicap fails.
The set handicap works in pretty much the same way, but at the set level. A line like Djokovic −1.5 sets means he must win in straight sets (2–0) for your bet to be a winning bet. If he drops a set and still wins 2–1, then the bet loses.
| Line | Result | Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Nadal −4.5 | Wins 6–4 6–3 | Yes |
| Nadal −4.5 | Wins 7–6 6–7 6–4 | No |
| Nadal −1.5 sets | Wins 2–0 | Yes |
| Nadal −1.5 sets | Wins 2–1 | No |
The total games market can be more nuanced. You are betting on how long the match goes rather than who wins. A line such as Over 22.5 games means the match must reach at least 23 games in total. For example, 7–6 6–4 would be 23 games, so that’s a win. This market comes into play when both players have strong serves or when you expect a few tiebreaks in the match.
Live or In-Play Tennis Betting
Live tennis betting is a popular activity that many punters enjoy engaging in. You can bet on a tennis match while the match is still ongoing. Of course, not all markets are going to be available for you to bet on when betting live, but live betting allows you to actually watch the match for a while and pick up on hints and the rhythm and timing and then place your bet.
Many times, if you are well-versed in tennis and you can read the flow of the game, then you can spot something and take advantage of it before the bookmaker corrects the odds for it. You won’t just be guessing, but will actually watch the game closely to predict what could happen going forward in the same game.
When a player breaks serve early, the live price changes instantly. For example, a favourite that was at 1.80 before the match might drop down to 1.40 the moment they go up a break. If that same player loses serve in the next game, the number shall bounce right back. But there’s an issue that comes with live betting, which is latency.
What you see on your screen is usually a few seconds behind the actual point happening the real game. So, if you try to run after live odds without a plan, you’ll always be late. That’s why it’s better to set your expectations before the match begins. Decide what you’re looking for and observe during the game instead of figuring out what to look for after the game starts. You snooze, you lose.
Cash-out options are given by some bookmakers and they can be helpful if you use them smartly. If you’re already in profit and the momentum starts to go the other way, then you can lock in part of your profit instead of waiting for the full result.
Popular Specials and Props Markets
Apart from the main tennis markets that most punters focus on, there are also a few smaller ones that you will come across quite often. These are called specials or props, and they deal with specific moments or actions within a match instead of the full result itself. Some of them can be fun and rewarding when used the right way, but they can also change quickly and have smaller limits, so you have to be careful with them. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the different special markets in tennis, specifically.
Total Aces or Double Faults
Here you are betting on how many aces or double faults a player will serve in the match. Some players are naturally strong servers and collect aces in every match, but others may rely on rallies instead. A line for this market might read something like Over 10.5 aces @ 1.85 for a player who has a strong serve. You win if they serve 11 or more. On the other side, you can take Under 2.5 double faults @ 1.90 if you know a player can perform well under pressure.
Tie-Break Played (Yes/No)
This one is simple, and you’re essentially predicting whether there will be at least one tie-break in the match. It makes sense for indoor hard courts or grass events where serves dominate and breaks of serve are kinda rare. If you expect long baseline games on clay, the “No” side usually makes more sense.
First Service Break
You can bet on which player will break serve first. This can be interesting when you know one player returns well or the other usually starts slow. But these bets settle early, so if you miss the window, then the market does not take long to close, and so you’ve got to be on your toes.
Race to 3 Games (Set 1)
This means you’re backing the team that reaches three games first in the opening set. It is going to be quick, it’s going to be over fast, and it mostly depends on who serves first. It’s certainly not a market for big stakes, but it can add small value when you have a hunch about how the two players start matches.
Common Tennis Betting Mistakes to Avoid
Everyone makes mistakes when betting on tennis, especially in the beginning. The difference between a bettor who fares well and one who just keeps losing is the fact that the first one figures out what they’re doing wrong and stops doing those things. So, instead of always trying to find the perfect bet and win big, you could benefit from understanding what sort of mistakes punters usually make when betting on tennis and avoid making them yourself. In the long run, this could really be the difference between being a winner and not. So, here are some of the common mistakes and how to avoid making them:
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Just betting on the favourite blindly:
Simply because a player is a favourite and likely to win a match, it does not mean that it is always the right bet for you to take, and it also does not guarantee that the player will actually win on that day. There are many reasons why a favourite may not perform well, and it could be due to the conditions, such as the weather, possible travel fatigue, the surface of the venue, etc. So, not considering these factors is one of the most common and easily avoidable mistakes that punters make when betting on tennis matches. -
Not considering the surface:
In tennis, the surface of the court matters quite a bit. Tennis is played on hard courts, clay courts, grass courts, and even indoor carpet courts in some cases. Each type of court will affect the game in a certain way. For example, clay courts are going to be slower, and players who are good at winning rallies will have an upper hand and those who rely on strong and fast serves may be at a disadvantage. Before betting on a tennis match, consider the surface on which it is being played and assess how it may affect the performances of both players. -
Chasing losses:
This is a mistake many punters make and pay for. This mistake is not exclusive to tennis. When you bet on something and your bet loses, you should just let it go. Instead, some players try to recover the losses by adjusting their next bet and this does not work out well in the majority of cases. Instead, treat your next bet as a fresh new bet and do not try to make up for a losing bet, because you will only end up losing even more in the long run. -
Placing bets without any research:
It’s not always wrong to just take a fun bet by randomly guessing. In fact, you’ll find stories of people winning big by placing random, guessed bets on sports and matches that they don’t even fully understand. However, these are the exceptions to the rule and most of the time, such bets are not going to get you anywhere. So, if you plan to win consistently with your bets, you’ll need to look at some stats like recent results, players’ performance on similar courts and against similar opponents, pace metrics, etc. Some bettors even use software and models to help them make the right bets. -
Ignoring price movement:
When you see the odds for a match suddenly drop or rise a lot before it starts, it usually means something has changed that the market already knows about, but you don’t yet. It could be a minor injury that wasn’t public at first, or maybe a player looked tired in warm-ups, or there was a last-minute change in weather that affects one player more than the other and so on. Therefore, do not ignore price movements and try to determine why they occurred before confirming your bet.
FAQs
It means the underdog gets a 4.5 game advantage. If they lose the match but stay within four games, then your bet wins.
A tie-break counts as one game, so a 7–6 set adds 13 games to the total, for instance.
Most bookmakers void bets if a player retires before the match finishes, but always check the rules section on your bookmaker’s page because some can have different policies.
Clay courts usually give underdogs a chance since rallies last longer and strong serves can be hit back with more control.
Yes. Many licensed bookmakers in South Africa allow live betting on every set and sometimes even on each game.
No, the calculations are the same, but WTA matches tend to be more volatile because they are shorter in format.
A push means the result lands precisely on the handicap number and your stake is refunded if this happens.
No, walkovers are not settled as wins because the match never starts officially. So, they don’t pay on walkovers.
Yes, as long as the bookmaker is locally licensed and you are over the age of 18, and your FICA verification has also been done thoroughly.