Did you know that in professional tennis, there are about nine games per set on average? It’s pretty obvious when you think about it – service games are so dominant that you only need to break once and hold on tight to win a set. This stat is important for tennis betting fans, especially when it comes to the over/under markets. One particular focus in tennis betting is on the number 20.5. Let’s dive into what 20.5 in tennis means and how the over/under markets work, so you can bet with more confidence.
What Does 20.5 Mean in Tennis?
Check out these odds from the Paddy Power sportsbook. They show an over/under market set at 20.5 for a match between two players at a WTA 250 event. This market is all about the total number of games that will be played in the match. The line is set at 20.5, and you can bet over 20.5 games being played or under 20.5. So, what is 20.5 in tennis? It’s simply a totals index that refers to the total number of games you think might be played in any match. The reason 20.5 is a good line is because it generally assumes a match will go into a third set if you bet over the line.
Alternatives to 20.5 in Tennis
The 20.5 line is common, but at Paddy Power, you can actually move to it better suit your needs. Paddy offers alternative lines ranging from 18.5 up to 23.5 on many three-set matches over the course of a season. If you bet over 18.5 games, your odds would be very short, as it’s likely the match in question will be done in two sets and won by a heavy favourite. On the other hand, betting over 23.5 games suggests you reckon the match may stretch deep into a third set.
How Over/Unders Work in Tennis
You’re likely to see these types of bets called ‘over/unders’ or ‘game totals’ in the Paddy Power sportsbook. You can actually bet on more than just games, as it’s possible to wager on the total number of sets (especially in five-set Grand Slam tennis), the total number of aces, and the total number of double faults. It’s important to understand how sportsbooks set the line. They look at historical data and the form of the players involved to come up with a prediction of where the over/under line should sit. Because opinion is part of the odds setting process, it’s possible for shrewd tennis betting fans to exploit badly-priced lines and win big. It’s the sort of thing football bettors look out for too. If you want to know more about this type of market, you can always read our Over/Under 2.5 goals guide, which can be easily related to tennis.
Can I Bet on Over/Unders in Live Tennis?
Live tennis betting is where over/unders markets truly come to life. You can bet on over/unders at Paddy Power during live matches, but you need to make sure you’re following the action closely. There may only be a few points difference between a match ending on +17.5 games and it stretching to over 30. If you bank on a long three-set match and it’s over 6-1 6-4, then suddenly you’re out of pocket. However, hold your nerve and you could be sitting on big potential profits. Shrewd tennis betting fans monitor the over/unders markets and seek to time their wagers to perfection, betting on high totals when the game is in the balance and hoping the underdog can force a final set.