Tennis betting
The short answer
Tennis betting means staking money on a player or a scoreline: who wins the match, the exact set score, or how many games are played. A tennis match can't end in a draw, so the main market has just two outcomes. On KhelKing you can bet on all four Grand Slams and on ATP and WTA events, before the match or point by point while it's live.
By the KhelKing team · Updated · 6 min read
Example market
Best of three · HardMatch winner
Set betting
Prices are an example. Backing Player A to win 2-0 at 2.10 would return ₹1,050 on the same stake.
All four Grand Slams, ATP and WTA 1000 events and the season-ending Finals.
Hard, clay and grass, each suiting a different kind of player.
Men play best of five at the Slams. Almost everything else is best of three.
Someone always wins, so the match market has two outcomes.
At a glance
01Markets
Match winner is the place to start. The rest let you bet on how the match goes, not just who wins it.
Who wins the match?
The main tennis market, with two outcomes. A strong favourite can trade at 1.10 or shorter, which pays very little.
Look past the ranking to how each player has done on this surface.
What's the exact set score?
Pick the final score in sets, such as 2-0 or 2-1 in best of three, or 3-1 in best of five. It's harder to call than the winner, so it pays more.
A good way to get a bigger price on a favourite you trust.
How many games are played?
Over or under a line for every game in the match. Two big servers who rarely get broken tend to push the total up.
Tie-breaks count as one game each.
By how many games?
One player starts with a games deficit. At -3.5, the favourite needs to win at least four more games than their opponent across the match.
Useful when the favourite's match price is too short to bother with.
Who takes the opening set?
Settles once the first set is over, usually within an hour. Slow starters and players who serve first are worth noting.
It still stands if a player retires after the first set.
Who wins the next game?
An in-play market on a single game. The server usually wins, so prices swing hard when a break point comes up.
Keep stakes small. A game is over in a couple of minutes.
02Surfaces
The same two players can be a very different match on clay and on grass. A player's record on the surface tells you more than their overall ranking.
| Surface | Speed | Who it suits | Big events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard | Medium | All-round players | Australian Open, US Open, ATP Finals |
| Clay | Slow | Baseliners with stamina and heavy topspin | Roland Garros, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome |
| Grass | Fast | Big servers and players who come to the net | Wimbledon, Queen's, Halle |
Clay slows the ball and makes it bounce high, so points last longer and stamina matters. Players who grind from the baseline do well, and big servers get fewer free points.
Grass is the opposite. The ball skids and stays low, serves are hard to return, and sets often go to tie-breaks. Hard courts fall in the middle and suit players with no big weakness.
03Calendar
January
Hard court
Late May to June
Clay court
Late June to July
Grass court
Late August to September
Hard court
Men play best of five sets at the Slams and women play best of three. Between the Slams, the ATP and WTA 1000 events carry the most markets, and the season ends with the Finals in November.
04Retirements
A market that was already decided when the player stopped stands. If the first set was finished, first set winner bets settle as normal. Markets that still needed more play, such as match winner or total games, may be void, depending on the market rules.
The betting rules cover each case. If a player is carrying an injury into a match, check the rules or ask support before you bet.
05In-play
Prices change after every point. Markets lock while a point is played and reopen between points, so there's always a new price to look at.
A player landing fewer first serves than usual is under pressure on every service game. Breaks often follow.
A trainer on court can mean an injury that changes the match, or a player who carries on as before. Prices react either way.
A set that goes to a tie-break is close to a coin flip, and the winner often carries momentum into the next set.
Wind upsets serving and timing. Long matches in heat test fitness, especially in best of five.
To close a position before the match ends, lay the player you backed at the current price. The live betting guide explains how.
06Get started
Message KhelKing on WhatsApp. Your account is ready in a few minutes and opening it is free.
Deposit by UPI. Support sends the payment details in the same chat.
Open tennis and choose a match. Check each player's record on the surface before you bet.
Start with match winner. Enter a stake you're comfortable with, check the slip and confirm.
Decide your budget before the match starts and stop when you reach it. Point-by-point markets move fast, so don't raise your stakes to win back a loss. Tennis betting on KhelKing is for players aged 18 and over, and the law on betting differs from state to state.
Support can add a deposit limit or pause your ID in one message. If gambling stops feeling like fun, free help is available:
Need a break? Support can pause or close your ID in one message, any time of day.
07FAQ
Can't find your answer? Our support team is online 24/7.
No. Every match has a winner, so the match winner market has only two outcomes.
A bet on the exact score in sets, such as 2-1 in a best-of-three match or 3-1 in best of five. It's harder to get right than the winner, so it pays more.
It depends on the market. Markets already decided when the player retires, such as a first set that was completed, stand. Other markets may be void. Check the market rules, or ask support, before you bet on a player carrying an injury.
All four Grand Slams, the ATP and WTA 1000 events, the season-ending Finals, and most 250 and 500 level events.
Not at the Grand Slams, where men play best of five and women play best of three. At most other events both play best of three.
One player starts with a games deficit. At -3.5 the favourite has to win at least four more games than their opponent over the whole match for the bet to win.
Every point changes the score, so prices update after each one. Markets lock while a point is played and reopen between points.
The Australian Open is in January, Roland Garros runs from late May into June, Wimbledon from late June into July, and the US Open from late August into September.
Not sure how a bet settled? Message support with the match, the market and your username.
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