Moneylines is the most popular form of betting with any sport. It is also the most straightforward. A moneyline is simply choosing who you think will win a match. Remember in tennis this can refer to two individual players or a pair (in a doubles match).
The favorite will be assigned the minus symbol, (-) and the underdog will be marked with a plus symbol (+). If the two players are deemed to have the same chance of winning, they will both be assigned the minus symbol. The odds will follow this symbol.
Let’s break it down in this example:
Say Novak Djokovic is playing Rafael Nadal in the final of Roland Garros (The French Open). Djokovic is ranked number one in the world and your sportsbook has the Serbian as the favourite to win.
Djokovic to win has a moneyline of -200 and Nadal to win has a moneyline of +150.
You have looked at their head-to-head record and, indeed, the Serbian should win this...BUT, you have looked at their head-to-head just on clay court as well as their overall records on clay and you have spotted that actually, Nadal is better than Djokovic on this surface. Although you still think it will be close, you see value in backing Nadal as the underdog.
You place $10 on the Spaniard.
There are two potential outcomes for your bet:
- Rafael Nadal wins. You receive your $10 wager back and $15 in profit ($25 total).
- Djokovic wins. You lose.