Although British betting culture still places horse racing and football at the forefront of any shop or website, tennis is one of the most underrated sports when it comes to betting and potential payouts.

The more prolific a match, the greater the range of prices generally available from bookmakers, and with tennis matches being played for a vast majority of the calendar year, the rewards for shrewd gambling can come thick and fast.

Where tennis is concerned, the period between May and September is particularly busy, and unlike football, tennis also has a much simpler range of markets from which to choose. The most popular ones are identified in the next section.

Market types

Identifying the most lucrative market is important, and an in-depth read of a preview from a tennis expert is always a wise move before placing a bet or compiling an accumulator. Bookmakers will typically offer the following basic markets for tennis matches:

• 1X2: The overall winner of the match
• O/U: In tennis, this market can refer to whether a match will last over or under a certain number of sets. For instance, if one player wins a best-of-three-sets match in straight sets (2-0), a bet predicting under 2.5 sets would win.
• Handicap: Like 1X2, but the player in question must now win by two clear sets, or more, depending on how much of a handicap they are backed with. Odds are longer for each player, so this market is best delved into when the players are evenly matched, and more likely to share sets.
• Correct Score: As a general rule, the more sets involved in a correct score, the longer the odds. For instance, backing a player to win a best-of-five match by 3-2 would offer a far better price than 3-0 (straight sets). However, the price difference between a straight-sets win and a non-straight-sets win is less drastic if the players are evenly matched.
• Outright: Not found in individual matches, this is a single price for a player to win the tournament.

Players to back

Generally, in tournaments where a ‘seeding’ system is used, seeded players are considered more likely to progress. With is of more significance during the four ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments that take place. In chronological order, they are:

• Australian Open (hard court)
• French Open (clay court)
• Wimbledon (grass court)
• US Open (hard court)

The ranking system used by the ATP and WTA is based on the form of ranked players over a twelve-month period. Under normal conditions, the rankings are a solid enough guideline, but extenuating circumstances such as injury or suspension can result in a highly ranked player nose-diving down the rankings.

That is, of course, unless the player in question is granted license to keep their ranking by the relevant authorities. Research into a player’s strengths and weaknesses, along with his/her recent form is by far a more important element for a bettor to consider if they are to have any chance of success.

Certain players also thrive much better on certain surfaces. Rafael Nadal, for instance, is known as the ‘King of Clay’ – and for good reason. This year, he won the French Open for a tenth time in thirteen years.

Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has been the man to beat on grass, and many believe that he would have won a third title if he had been free of injury in this year’s event.

ITF challenger events also offer a rich tapestry for bettors, with the tours for both gender divisions holding over 500 events each across the world.

'In play' betting and value for money

In the era of online betting, with betting apps providing an instant fix, many bookmakers compete to offer bettors the best deal. While some bookmakers choose to play the long game, by capitalising on events which will certainly be popular, tennis - by its very nature - demands a quick offer.

Games can change dynamically, and though the seeding system can offer people projecions as to who will face who in the next round, there is still very little time to promote special odds ahead of any match. As such, the best value prices for tennis can often be found during the match, as bookmakers compete with one another to reel new customers in.

When it comes to in-play tennis betting, one potentially rewarding option for the bettor is to look at matches in which the outsider is one or two sets down and back the favourite to win. Yet again, however, studying form is a vital part of doing so with vindication.

Whether a bettor uses in-play services or not, it is in the value of the price that the first battle to beat the bookmaker can be won. Although some picks appear obvious, not one edition of any major tournament has been without at least one upset:

Form over function

In the case of tennis, it is the form of the player – and, by extension, their own record against a particular opponent – that usually matters. For example, anyone backing Kevin Anderson (ranked 32^nd) to beat Dominic Thiem (7^th) at ATP Washington on 3 August 2017, would have seen a payout that was excellent value for money.

In beating Thiem, Anderson took his own personal record against the Austrian to 7-0, and this is crucial to determining the true value of any payout.

Thiem had enjoyed a strong Wimbledon, making him favourite ahead of his ATP Washington match against Anderson. However, Anderson was also in excellent form, and had beaten Thiem on (all) six occasions they had previously met.

Despite this, bookmakers only saw a probability of around 44% that Anderson would win, with the disparity in two players’ rankings their justification for publishing such long odds against Anderson. However, the probability of an Anderson win was (in reality) closer to 60%, given his form and record against Thiem.

Had this been reflected in the bookmakers’ prices, the odds would have been significantly shorter.

South Africa's Kevin Anderson reflects on 'epic' with Dominic Thiem.

Tennis betting: a bastion of change

The ever-increasing frequency of tennis matches on the market, accompanied by an ever-expanding range of betting apps, has changed the nature of sports betting on a wider scale. By extension, the very way in which bookmakers operate has been forced to change.

Some bookmakers, in order to keep ahead of the vast competition that now exists, now actively identify the best value bets. Certain bookmakers may even provide the probability of an outcome along with the price.

With a vast quantity of tennis matches being played, most bookmakers are increasingly using the most prolific matches in their special offers. Less experienced bettors – or simply those that are more casual about betting – will typically remain loyal to one bookmaker. However, these bettors are still more easily taken in than those that are more experienced.

The more drastic special offers advertised are thus targeted at new (not existing) customers, causing them to ‘defect’ to another bookmaker. Ultimately then, it could be argued that tennis has been one of the most influential sports, as far as the process of tilting the betting experience in favour of the bettor is concerned.

Fancying Djokovic... or Nadal... or Thiem? https://www.888sport.com/ has your back

FORMER Birmingham City striker Clinton Morrison is urging Blues to go for the jugular in their vital encounter with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Blues find themselves in the dropzone after a horror run of four matches without a win or a goal. And Morrison, who scored 14 goals in 87 matches for the club, reckons boss Steve Cotterill needs to abandon his one-up-front system in favour of two strikers.

Speaking to Blues’ principle sponsor 888sport, Morrison said: “They’re obviously really struggling for goals right now. They’ve been unlucky with Isaac Vassell’s injury as I think he’s a proper striker but they’ve still got good forwards at the club in Che Adams, Sam Gallagher and Lukas Jutkiewicz and I’d like to see something different against Forest because there’s definitely goals in that team.”

The former striker is expecting a tight and nervy affair on Saturday but expects the St Andrew’s faithful to play a massive role.

“The Blues have got some of the most passionate fans in the country and they’ll need to be a good atmosphere on Saturday,” he added.

“At the moment, a lot of the problems are down to confidence and if the fans can get behind the lads, hopefully it can kick-start the season.”

Morrison has been left shellshocked by events at the club in the past 12 months. And although he is backing boss Cotterill to turn things around, he admits results have to improve – and fast.

He said: “I do think they have more than enough quality to stay up. In fact, they’ve got the players to be top ten. But unless they start picking up results soon, all of a sudden the games start running out.

“The danger is the players don’t believe they will go down and before you know it there’s five games left and you’re on the brink. The next three games are absolutely vital I think.”

With Blues having parted company with three managers in the last year, Morrison says Cotterill will be fully aware of the expectations on him.

“Clearly, the owners don’t want to be in League 1 and they’ve already shown they are prepared to be ruthless,” said Morrison.

“He’s a good manager and in Lee Carsley they have one of the best coaches around but things need to turn around.

“I went to his first game against Cardiff and I thought they were great – full of intensity and in their faces, but for whatever reason, things have gone wrong.”

“If there was an option of going for Gareth Bale - who is available and can have an effect long-term – then Arsenal will pay the wages. That would put the cat among the pigeons. There are a few rumours and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was available and £86m would be a snip. Bale can do everything and is one of the best players I’ve ever seen. He’s also commercially good. If they can get him for £86m they can more than manage the £300,000 a week or whatever he’s on. That would be the player I’d target.”

"Arsene has loyalty to his players"

It would certainly go down as one of the most sensational transfers in British history but Bentley insists only a superstar will suffice considering the calibre of player he would be replacing. As for Sanchez, whose clear agitation to leave the Emirates has proven to be a major disruption for Arsenal in recent months, the 7-cap England international suggests the blame should be shared around.

“Arsene has loyalty to his players. He’s had that through the years. That ruthless nature of Mourinho or Conte would mean they wouldn’t have Sanchez in the team. He’d be training with the reserves. I’ve been in changing rooms and it can be poisonous and have a negative impact on the team. By just being there. Arsene Wenger is probably the best manager I’ve been with but he’s a football purist and sometimes personalities come into play and that has an effect on what happens on the pitch. Sometimes you just can’t have those people involved.”

“Maybe it’s the dressing room. Tony Adams, Ray Parlour and Martin Keown would have managed the dressing room. They wouldn’t have accepted this kind of behaviour. I don’t think that strength of character is there now.”

"Ozil? He’s a luxury player that operates in that lazy manner"

The talented Chilean is not the only player presently unsettled in North London of course. His fellow contract rebel Mesut Ozil is also eyeing up the exit door having failed to commit to a new deal. Despite the German schemer’s lofty reputation Bentley believes it would be no big loss.

“He’s a luxury player that operates in that lazy manner. When things are not going well and the team is under pressure that is exposed. At Real Madrid he had the perfect set-up because he didn’t have to do the yards. The mentality at that football club was designed for him not to have to do that. Whereas in England you have to grind it out and run a bit and it doesn’t suit him to be honest.”

If the 33 year old has concerns over Ozil’s ability to influence games on English soil there is no doubting his outright admiration for Alexandre Lacazette, the Gunners’ record summer purchase who has surprisingly spent more time on the Arsenal bench this term than out on the pitch making defenders’ lives a misery.

“Lacazette has come in and hit the ground running. He’s answered the questions and he’s a goal-scorer – he should be playing. I don’t know why he’s not to be honest. You purchase a player and you want him to get confident so it doesn’t make sense to unsettle a player who has just come into a football club. I’d be playing him every minute of every game and there is no better period for him to play because he can be seen as the saviour of Arsenal. It’s bizarre. Maybe he is testing him?”

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s 184^th North London derby the former midfielder – who once scored a famous and stunning thirty yarder in this very fixture – still has a foot in each camp having played for both sides. Yet he has no hesitation in picking the favourite to emerge with all three points on Saturday afternoon.

“Tottenham have the upper hand at the minute on quality. They are probably the better team. They’ve beaten Real Madrid in recent weeks and the confidence is high within each individual player. They’re probably the favourites and they’ve earned their right to be favourites. Arsenal are in a stale period and are having problems with their players. Their top stars are unhappy. So Tottenham are probably the favourites and are expected to win.”

"I don’t think moving into this new stadium without Kane or Dele Alli makes sense"

Should they do so we can assume their outstanding duo of Harry Kane and Dele Alli will each play a significant role and by doing so add a further nought to their respective values. Does Bentley believe both players will still be in the capital next season even if Spurs once again fall short in their title aspirations? 

“Daniel Levy makes the decisions, not the players, and with the manager, the training facilities, and the new stadium in place it is a great place to play your football. There will come a point but I don’t think next summer will be that point. From Spurs’ perspective I don’t think moving into this new stadium without Kane or Dele Alli makes sense”

What also makes little sense is the persistent claim that Spurs are a ‘one man team’, overly reliant on their prolific striker. Bentley however approaches this hoary old jibe from another angle altogether, insisting it isn’t even an insult at all.

“Barcelona is a Messi team and Real Madrid are a Ronaldo team. Your best players are the focal point of the team and you build your team around your best players. That’s just the way it is and it’s not an insult. Harry Kane has emerged as the driving point of that team. You accept that and you encourage it and I think Kane is the type of player to respond to that responsibility. He’s not going to shirk from it. As long as the other players accept that and Harry delivers then you’re fine. If he’s banging in goals then he’s earning you money.”

Furthermore if he’s banging in the goals then Tottenham will remain in contention for their first title for several generations. With Manchester City currently looking so dominant however would defeat for either team this Saturday mean they can kiss their championship hopes goodbye?

 “To be honest I think each set of individuals should be concentrating on just winning the game because it’s so important for the fans.  All my mates are Tottenham and Arsenal and they dine out on it for the rest of the year. It’s a brilliant game to be involved in.”

***

David Bentley’s quickfire questions

Score prediction for Arsenal v Spurs:
3-1 to Spurs

First goal-scorer?
Harry Kane

Who will win the Premier League?
Man City

Who will win the Premier League Golden Boot?
Harry Kane

Who will win the Champions League?
Man City

And the favorites are... Bet now on Arsenal - Tottenham

The North London derby: More than a game

The BetVictor Gold Cup is the feature race on Saturday afternoon on a card that includes seven top quality races and is one of the most popular days at Cheltenham outside of The Festival.

The Gold Cup, still affectionately remembered as the Mackeson Gold Cup with some of the older N.H racing aficionados, is a Grade Three handicap chase run over two miles, four furlongs and 78 yards of the Old Course at National Hunt racing’s headquarters.

Here is your runner-by-runner guide to the 2017 renewal.

Kylemore Lough

Kylemore Lough won eight races from 16 runs when trained by Kerry Lee, which included the Grade One Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in 2016.

The eight-year-old did not win in four starts last season and was moved to Harry Fry’s stable at the end of the season.

Le Prezien

Le Prezien only went down to Foxtail Hill by a neck at Cheltenham last time out and is well fancied to run well at the track again.

He is an improving game young horse (rated 150) that gets the trip so he must have a chance.

Double Treasure

A three-time winner already over the autumn and this race is another step up, but the gelding gets on well with Gavin Sheehan and they scored at Cheltenham together last time out.

Viconte Du Noyer

The familiar colours of the late Alan Potts will be carried by the eight-year-old this weekend after a decision by his family to let his racehorses take up their intended entries. This one will have to put a mediocre run last time out behind it.

Days Of Heaven

Nicky Henderson believes this runner to be too high in the handicap and says that he also needs fast ground which is not on the itinerary on Saturday.

Tully East

Irish-trained horses have won the Gold Cup five times, most recently thanks to Tranquil Sea in 2009. Alan Fleming’s horse is already a Cheltenham scorer and the signs are good for another big run.

Foxtail Hill

Foxtail Hill was an all-the-way winner over a slightly shorter distance at the Showcase Meeting recently and bids to follow up by taking this feature for his trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Theinval

Nicky Henderson said of Theinval: "Theinval was unlucky all last year. One day we will get it right. He ran very nicely at Ascot over two miles that day but this is his trip.”

Romain De Senam

Impressive in his two wins since coming back this season, he has run well at Cheltenham previously - second in the Fred Winter. The forecast ground will be right up his street too.

Paul Nicholls seeks to land this prize for a third time in six years.

Starchitect

David Pipe, who saddled Great Endeavour to victory six years ago, relies on Starchitect who won on his seasonal return at Stratford.

Rated 144, he has won on the flat, over hurdles and twice over fences. He could be an interesting each-way player.

Ballyalton

Ballyalton missed last season, but made an encouraging comeback in a two and a half mile handicap hurdle at Aintree three weeks ago.

He is a previous winner of the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and could be a dark horse in this.

Aqua Dude

Evan Williams feels his seven-year-old is much more the finished article this season after flattering to deceive last season.

He reappeared with a stylish win at Uttoxeter last month.

Bentelimar

A consistent performer for Shay Barry in Ireland, he has only recently moved to Charlie Longsdon's stable.

He has run some very good races in Ireland in big handicaps and looks overpriced at around 33/1.

Plaisir D’amour

The five-year-old mare has won three of her eight chase starts in total, all of which have been during her time with Venetia Williams.

She appeared to enjoy Cheltenham on her first appearance here in a mares' event on the New Course back in April.

Guitar Pete

Guitar Pete gained a pair of Grade One victories over hurdles as a juvenile in 2014, as well as finishing third in the Triumph Hurdle at The Festival.

The grey ended a frustrating run of four second places to score a tidily off bottom weight in the bet365 Handicap Chase at Wetherby last time out.

Splash Of Ginge

Splash of Ginge made the early running in the bet365 Handicap Chase at Wetherby, but at the business end the Listed event turned into a duel between Guitar Pete and Sametegal.

That run was encouraging however and Nigel Twiston-Davies trained nine-year-old is a previous course and distance winner.

Mystifiable

The grey gelding ran fourth to Romain De Senam in the John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase at Chepstow on his seasonal reappearance after being a couple of pounds out of the handicap.

The stable is very much in form but this really would be a fairytale if Miss L.M Pinchin (7) could upset the odds.

Lake Takapuna

Won the 'Bet Through The Racing Post App' Handicap Chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day last year but failed to build upon that in two subsequent runs.

He has been off the track since August and he does not jump off the page at you as an obvious candidate to win this.

Summary

The meeting may have lost its “Open” tag this year but this feature race of the thee-day festival certainly makes up for it in terms of horses with chances.

Venetia Williams is no stranger to winning big handicaps on a Saturday at Cheltenham and her mare Plaisir D’amour has been largely ignored in the betting.

The five-year-old has all the credentials to run a big race on her seasonal return and she is certainly worth an each-way poke.

Bentelimar is just the type of horse who can respond to a change of scenery and a new training regime and Charlie Longsdon will have done all the right things with him. This is another each-way contender in a wide open contest.

888sport suggests: Plaisir D’amour and Bentelimar (e/w).

Manchester United need to bring an end to a streak that has seen them win just one in four in the league. Newcastle have lost their last two, and could do with stunting a potentially poor run as they head into a tough group of fixtures.

It is Rafael Benitez visiting Jose Mourinho’s home ground. This match is not the be all and end all for the teams, but it sees a return of one of the Premier League’s best rivalries – in the dugout, anyway.

This clash has a lengthy history in the Premier League. From the battle to sign Shearer to famous Kevin Keegan quotes, there have been classics, title fights, and the odd bit of bad blood. These are two different squads, led by different managers, but the respective management should ensure it’s another fierce fixture. Benitez, for sure, will be given a hostile welcome by the Old Trafford crowd.

Amidst Paris Saint Germain rumours, failure to win here is not an option for United. It could see them slip to fourth, and would be almost a decisive blow to their title hopes.

Newcastle present a threat that has troubled this United side. Benitez will bring an organised unit to Old Trafford, and could halt an attack that has been short of creativity since Paul Pogba’s injury. The Frenchman is believed to be close to a return, but this match is likely a few days too soon.

The Magpies troubled Liverpool at St James’ a few weeks ago. Without their bellowing support, though, this is an entirely different situation. Their away form has been poor this season, with three defeats in five league matches away from their northeast home.

Goals have been hard to come by for Benitez’s men, too. Only one has been scored in their last three in the league, as their attack has looked frustratingly short of invention. The 11/20 price on them to fail to score is on the short side, however, given the mistakes that we have seen in this Manchester United defence.

Romelu Lukaku is one of the leading stories coming into this one. The Belgian has seen his flying start to the season come to a spectacular halt. He is in the midst of a goal drought, and is suffering at the head of the dysfunctional Manchester United attack. Chances are not going to be easy to come by on Saturday evening, either. His 11/10 price not to score is longer than I would have expected.

People who suffered through Mourinho and Benitez’s meetings over a decade or so ago should expect this match to be a battle. It might well be an unpleasant watch, and goals are unlikely to fly in. The 19/20 on under 2.5 goals is, as a result, good value.

Even a draw for the visitors would be an upset of sorts. For those that fancy that, it’s at 24/5. Backing a United win is almost impossible to justify at 1/4, but so a draw at half-time, home win at full-time at 3/1 might be the best value.

TIP: Manchester United to win 2-0 @ 22/5

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

We've got the first north London derby of the season this weekend - can Arsenal maintain their excellent home form or will Spurs emerge victorious?