The French Open typically takes place from late May to mid June every year. Tennis is the 3rd most popular sport for Illinois residents to bet on, and this guide will take you through each step of the process up to making your tennis wagers for the second major on the tennis calendar.
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Tennis is an exciting sport that has gained immense popularity in Illinois in recent years. Besides the thrill of watching the game, many people also enjoy placing bets on their favorite players.
Betting on tennis can be a lot of fun, and you can make various types of bets. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Roland-Garros uses Grand Slam–standard scoring: men play best-of-five sets, women best-of-three, and since 2022 all Slams—including the French Open—decide the final set with a 10-point tiebreak at 6–6. That change shortens extreme marathons and can trim totals compared with pre-2022 pricing.
Paris now stages nightly showcase matches on Court Philippe-Chatrier starting not before about 8:15 p.m. local time, and—with retractable roofs on both Philippe-Chatrier and Suzanne-Lenglen since 2024—weather disruptions are less likely to wipe out entire sessions, which matters for live betting cadence and “match to finish today” markets.
The tournament also switched to Wilson balls in 2020, a tweak players said made conditions heavier at times—useful context when assessing overs/unders and hold-break dynamics on clay.
When wagering on tennis, the type of court being played on is a crucial factor to consider. Each surface presents its advantages and obstacles, and clay courts are no exception.
With their slow surface, high bounces, and extended rallies, clay court matches can prove to be unpredictable. Thankfully, you can increase your odds of winning by employing the right betting tactics. Below are some effective strategies to use when betting on clay court tennis.
Betting on tennis involves assessing the likelihood of a certain outcome, such as the winner or the number of sets played.
Tennis betting odds are often expressed as a ratio, with a higher number indicating lower odds of the outcome taking place.
Implied probability is the chance of an event happening based on the odds, which can be determined by dividing 1 by the odds ratio and multiplying by 100 for a percentage.
Knowing tennis betting odds and implied probability is essential for informed betting, as it can help you determine if a bet is worthwhile and make better decisions.
To be successful in tennis betting, bankroll management is key. This involves setting aside a certain amount of money for betting and handling it responsibly to make it last for the entire tournament.
A general rule is to never wager more than 1-5% of your total bankroll on a single bet. This strategy helps to decrease losses and stop one bet from wiping out your entire bankroll.
It's also crucial to avoid increasing the size of your bets when trying to recover from losses. By managing your bankroll responsibly, you can improve your chances of success in tennis betting while minimizing your risk of financial loss.
Athletes who excel on clay courts are often called "clay court specialists." They possess unique abilities that allow them to perform exceptionally well on this surface, including the ability to slide into their shots and deliver high, looping heavy topspin shots.
These specialists have the potential to cause upsets early on in a tournament, especially when facing higher-seeded players who may not be as accustomed to playing on clay as they are. Keep an eye out for players who primarily compete on this surface and may have an edge over their opponents.
When it comes to clay court tennis, you can expect some intense and enduring rallies that require a lot of physical stamina. Players with impressive endurance, like Novak Djokovic, perform well on this surface.
It's important to pay attention to the most recent clay-court season and career clay-court results. Look for players with a history of doing well in long matches and pay close attention to a player's tiebreak results on clay. You can find detailed results like these on Tennis Abstract.
Out of 4,838 Grand Slam matches recorded from 2007-2016, the players expected to win before the match started came out victorious 78.5% of the time. That means underdogs do win 21.5% of the time and an Illinois punter would do well to consider betting on the underdog.
Tennis Abstract offers a list of ELO rankings per surface that can be helpful, and we also suggest looking at the players head to head results. Look for underdogs playing well on clay facing a struggling higher-ranked player, or target a higher-seeded player returning from injury against a clay-court specialist at +150 or better.
Wet conditions can slow down the clay court surface even further, making it even more difficult for players to hit winners.
Hot, sunny and dry days make the clay play faster and it's less easy to remain balanced when sliding but could the faster courts also benefit the bigger servers as well. Windy days make hitting big serves difficult and could also affect the players groundstrokes.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast and adjust your betting strategy accordingly.
It is legal to bet on the French Open in Illinois, and it has been since 2020.
The French Open occurs at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. The venue has multiple courts, including the Philippe Chatrier Court, Suzanne Lenglen Court, and others.
The French Open is unique among the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments as it is played on a clay court surface. The clay used at Roland Garros is called "terre battue" in French and is known for being slow and conducive to longer rallies.
Yes, many online sportsbooks offer live betting options for the French Open. Live betting offers an opportunity for you to bet on matches as they unfold, with odds and bet types continually updating throughout the event.
Yes, there are some special promotions, odds boosts, and bonuses for betting on the French Open. These can include enhanced odds on selected matches, deposit bonuses, free bets or betting credits, or specific promotions tied to the tournament. It's advisable to check with individual bookmakers for any ongoing promotions or bonuses related to the French Open.
