US Open Tennis Betting
In the realm of professional tennis, there are few tournaments as notable as the US Open, which is an annual event at the USTA Center in Queens, New York.
In 2021, the US Open will take place from Aug. 30 to Sept. 12.
Like any sport, certain players rise to the occasion of a tournament as difficult as the US Open. In the modern era, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer have the most men’s singles titles with five each. On the women’s side, Chris Evert and Serena Williams each hold six titles.
Here’s our guide to betting on the US Open, including tips, insight and information.
Best sports betting apps to bet on the US Open
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Best US Open tennis betting sites in Iowa
With a tournament as popular as the US Open, there are plenty of opportunities to place tennis bets in Iowa. Tennis, as a whole, doesn’t rival the sheer number of wagers on major leagues, e.g., the NFL. However, the US Open, and other tennis tournaments, still have plenty of fans and plenty of sportsbooks from which to choose.
With the legalization of sports betting in the Hawkeye State, the growth of availability of legal online and traditional sportsbooks has boomed. As a sports bettor, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from when placing your wagers.
Here is a shortlist of our favorite Iowa sports betting apps and websites:
- DraftKings Sportsbook IA: While it wasn’t the first sports betting app to launch in Iowa, it may feel familiar due to it’s DFS background. DraftKings offers betting online and app betting.
- Caesars Sportsbook IA: Caesars came to Iowa in August 2021, and offers loads of experience online and a superior Caesars app for mobile bettors.
- FanDuel Sportsbook IA: FanDuel brings its popularity and expertise to Iowa sports bettors who prefer their desktop computer or using a sports betting app.
Why use an app to bet on the US Open in Iowa?
It’s wise to be curious about the safety and security of an app. The good news is these apps are some of the most secure available today, as sportsbooks must follow specific regulations to protect customers.
Consider the benefits of having an app to place your bets. First and foremost is convenience. Having your sportsbook in your hands means you’re less likely to miss out on a wager.
Additionally, having access to a mobile sportsbook means you can enjoy live betting during the US Open. Typically, live wagering are only available on mobile and online platforms. Brick-and-mortar sportsbooks can’t usually keep up with the ever-shifting odds of in game betting.
Which mobile apps are best for US Open betting?
We like DraftKings, Caesars and FanDuel out of the entire field. The reason is simple: They are tried, true and tested in nearly multiple states with legalized sportsbooks. They have outstanding customer service, a variety of deposit and withdrawal options and a user-friendly interface.
2021 US Open tennis odds for men and women
There is plenty of time to focus your efforts on the 2021 US Open, which begins play in late August, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have opportunities now. If you’re the type of sports bettor who enjoys playing in the futures market, then now is a great time to get involved.
Odds are being released across a variety of sportsbooks for the winners of the men’s and women’s singles tournaments at the next US Open. Here are some US Open tennis betting odds of note:
Men
- Novak Djokovic: +125
- Dominic Thiem: +450
- Daniil Medvedev: +620
- Rafael Nadal: +620
- Roger Federer: +1240
Women
- Naomi Osaka: +620
- Bianca Andreescu: +720
- Ashleigh Barty: +760
- Serena Williams: +800
- Simona Halep: +1,040
These odds will be in flux from now until the start of the US Open, so make sure you do your research on which sportsbook will offer the best line for the player(s) you have in mind.
What are US Open tennis betting lines?
If you’re new to sports betting, then some of the terminologies can be confusing. Here’s a short walkthrough on what US Open betting lines are typically available and how each works. Additionally, we’ll cover how odds are set and why they change.
Keep in mind that these are small examples, and only your research and hands-on experience will truly educate you on the ins and outs of betting on the US Open and other tennis events.
Let’s start with what odds are in the sports betting industry. In short, odds are a numerical representation of the chance that something is going to happen. For example, if two tennis players are in a tournament and one is seeded No. 1 and the other No. 15, then oddsmakers will give better odds of winning to the No. 1 seed. In a head-to-head matchup, the favorite will have a negative number in the odds listing, while the underdog will have a positive number.
The odds you’ll see in tennis are typically attached to four bet types: moneyline, game or set spread, the total (also known as the over/under) and futures.
The most popular bet type, like with many professional and collegiate sports, is the moneyline bet. This wager is where you choose which player will win the match. If you’re right, you win. If you’re not, then you lose. Pretty simple.
As for game spread and set spread bets, you can view these as a way to even the playing field. Oddsmakers set the line, and then there will be a differential between the underdog and the favorite. For example, if Serena Williams is a -1100 favorite over Leylah Annie Fernandez in a three-set match, the game spread might be around -3.5. That means Williams would need to win four games more than Fernandez in the match to cover the game spread. If you bet on Fernandez (+3.5) and Williams wins by fewer than four games, or Fernandez wins outright, then you would win your bet.
The set spread works the same way as the game version. Instead of games, you’re placing your wager on sets. So, if you bet on the sets (let’s say a player has a line of -1.5), that player will have to win by two sets or more for you to win.
How are tennis odds set?
Like any sport, some oddsmakers work for the books to set the odds for each tennis match or tournament. They use data collected on each player, ranging from historical success on a particular surface or against a certain opponent to deeper dives into statistics, records, performances and more.
Oddsmakers use that information to determine which players are the favorites and the underdogs, and to assign specific odds.
Odds can change after the opening lines become public. That often is due to either a change in status (like a player suffering an injury in practice or similar events) or because of betting being heavy on one side or the other.
Sportsbooks are businesses, and the odds are designed to give them the best chance at making money. When bets go heavy in one direction, the books often have to adjust the odds to ensure they still make money.
How do I bet on matches live?
Live betting, also known as in game betting, is exactly what it sounds like: Betting that takes place while the game is happening. This kind of wagering allows fans and bettors a chance to experience a new connection to the sport and gives them more of a reason to watch from start to finish.
You’re likely not going to find this style of betting at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook because the odds are constantly changing based on what is happening during the event. It moves a bit too fast for most retail locations.
However, sportsbook apps are quite likely to feature this type of bet, and you’ll see lots of wagers like which player will score first, who will have the first ace and who will win the first set.
The beauty of live betting is that it allows you to adjust for aspects you weren’t anticipating when you first made your bet. Momentum can change quickly in tennis, weather can impact the match and even stoppages can change the flow of the match.
If you’re watching and betting live on the US Open, you’ll be able to make adjustments as the action unfolds on the court.
What are the rules for betting on tennis matches in Iowa?
Each sportsbook — be it online, mobile or retail — has its own terms and conditions, and its rules for each sport.
First and foremost, always make sure to read the terms and conditions before accepting them when you register with a sportsbook. Don’t take for granted that you know what they are going to entail.
Second, make sure to read the sportsbook rules regarding the sport on which you’ll be wagering. You’ll find out its policies on what constitutes a complete bet, what changes would cancel bets, what events have special rules and more.
The good news is that tennis is regulated, and the rules for betting are rarely complicated. But familiarize yourself with them, nonetheless.
Top tips for betting on US Open tennis
Here are three of our favorite tips for betting on the US Open:
- Players Who Can Serve and Return Well: This one seems like it is natural for any professional tennis player to do, right? A massive part of the game is serving and returning serves. That’s true, but some players who have made those parts of their games a focal point. Great serves equal points, and great returns do as well. Look for players who have that advantage over their opponent.
- Review the Seedings: There are lots of moving parts when it comes to seeding players for a tournament the size of the US Open. There are also seven weeks between Wimbledon and the US Open, which gives players plenty of time to prepare by playing on hard, fast courts, in tournaments featuring top competition and more. Keep an eye on how players have done over those seven weeks as you look at the seedings.
- How Players Perform at Night: This is a weird tip, right? But the truth of the matter is there are night matches under artificial lighting during the US Open. Some players don’t seem to be bothered by the time and the lights, while others struggle. Also, the New York crowd tends to be more raucous for a US Open night session.
Can you bet on doubles tennis at the US Open?
The short answer is that it depends on the sportsbook you are using, but, yes, you typically can find one that carries the doubles as part of its offerings. Sometimes you can only place those doubles bets on the final round matchups, and other times you can find them throughout the tournament.
Keep in mind that many sportsbooks will void a bet on doubles if any of the players who are scheduled to play in a specific match are replaced or substituted.
You won’t see much difference in the bet types you can wager on when it comes to doubles versus singles tennis, but you will need to do more research as you compare doubles teams against one another.
US Open tennis results over the last five years
Here is a list of the winners and the runners-up from the past five years of US Open tennis for both men’s and women’s singles:
2016
- Men’s Champion: Stan Wawrinka
- Men’s Runner-Up: Novak Djokovic
- Women’s Champion: Angelique Kerber
- Women’s Runner-Up: Karolina Pliskova
2017
- Men’s Champion: Rafael Nadal
- Men’s Runner-Up: Kevin Anderson
- Women’s Champion: Sloane Stephens
- Women’s Runner-Up: Madison Keys
2018
- Men’s Champion: Novak Djokovic
- Men’s Runner-Up: Juan Martin del Potro
- Women’s Champion: Naomi Osaka
- Women’s Runner-Up: Serena Williams
2019
- Men’s Champion: Rafael Nadal
- Men’s Runner-Up: Daniil Medvedev
- Women’s Champion: Bianca Andreescu
- Women’s Runner-Up: Serena Williams
2020
- Men’s Champion: Dominic Thiem
- Men’s Runner-Up: Alexander Zverev
- Women’s Champion: Naomi Osaka
- Women’s Runner-Up: Victoria Azarenka
US Open Tennis FAQ
The futures odds as of January 2021 for the men’s and women’s singles winners at the US Open are:
Men
- Novak Djokovic: +125
- Dominic Thiem: +450
- Daniil Medvedev: +620
- Rafael Nadal: +620
Women
- Naomi Osaka: +620
- Bianca Andreescu: +720
- Ashleigh Barty: +760
- Serena Williams: +800
In 2021, the US Open will take place Aug. 30-Sept. 12.
There are 13 qualifying tournaments players can choose to participate in with hopes of earning a place at the US Open, but the majority of spots go to professional tennis players who are ranked internationally.
There are also eight “wild card” spots in each tournament, which are given out at the discretion of the organizers. These are often reserved for players who have won a notable tournament, who have finished as runners-up at multiple tournaments, or perhaps for those pros who have stepped away a bit but want to end their career with one more go at the US Open.
That’s a pretty hard question to truly answer because it really comes down to your preference. Do you prefer tennis over other sports? Do you find researching tennis easier than researching other sports? There can be a variety of reasons as to why you might consider tennis the best sport to bet on, as there are a variety for those who believe football, soccer, racing, MMA, basketball or another sport is the best for betting.
Most sportsbooks will void any bet that a player cannot possibly participate in. So if a tennis player chooses to hang up the racket and retire, then bets placed on that player and any scheduled matches will most likely be voided.
It is always a good idea to check the rules at the sportsbook you are using to see the rules it has in place for such an occurrence.