Brief

How tennis betting odds work and where to find value

The guide explains fractional and decimal odds, key markets and basic betting tactics for tennis.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 20 Oct 2026 02:40:28 GMT

Tennis betting is often described as simpler than other sports because matches have only two possible outcomes – win or lose. Standard.co.uk outlines how odds are presented in the UK, how to calculate returns and which markets most punters focus on.

What are tennis betting odds?

In the United Kingdom odds are usually shown as fractions, for example 4/6 for a favourite and 5/4 for an underdog. The same prices can be displayed as decimals – 1.67 and 2.25 in the example – which some online bookmakers allow users to toggle between. The guide notes that the bookmaker margin on the sample odds is 4.4%.

How to calculate returns

Using a £10 stake on a 4/6 favourite, the formula (stake × numerator / denominator) + stake gives a return of £16.67. A £10 bet on a 5/4 underdog would return £22.50. The favourite is termed “odds‑on” while the underdog is “odds‑against”.

Main tennis betting markets

The article lists three popular markets: Match winner – a wager on the player who wins the match outright; Set betting – predicting the winner of a specific set or the exact set score; and Handicap betting – giving the underdog a theoretical head‑start, such as a +1 set advantage, with odds adjusted accordingly. Live betting odds are said to update constantly during a match.

Factors that can move odds

Odds may shift in the lead‑up to a match due to injury news, a surge of money on one player, head‑to‑head records, surface preference or recent form. The guide suggests tracking price changes via the best tennis‑betting apps.

Simple betting strategies

Standard.co.uk advises punters to remember that a player’s ranking does not always reflect true winning chances. Variables such as surface suitability and recent performance can create value on higher‑priced underdogs. The article encourages beginners to start with the match‑winner market before exploring set and handicap options.

Key facts

UK tennis odds are commonly expressed as fractions such as 4/6 for a favourite and 5/4 for an underdog. (standard.co.uk)
The decimal equivalents of 4/6 and 5/4 are 1.67 and 2.25 respectively. (standard.co.uk)
A £10 stake on 4/6 returns £16.67; the same stake on 5/4 returns £22.50. (standard.co.uk)
The three most popular tennis betting markets are match winner, set betting and handicap betting. (standard.co.uk)
Live tennis betting odds update continuously during a match. (standard.co.uk)