What is Game Handicap in Tennis Betting?
Game handicap is a type of spread betting in tennis. Instead of betting on who wins the match outright, you bet on whether a player will cover a spread of total games won.
- A favorite gets a negative handicap (e.g., –4.5 games).
- An underdog gets a positive handicap (e.g., +4.5 games).
At the end of the match, the number of games each player won is adjusted by the handicap, and the bet is settled.
It’s like giving the weaker player a “head start” in terms of games.
Example with a Player: Novak Djokovic
Suppose Novak Djokovic is playing against Casper Ruud.
Match Result (actual score):
Djokovic wins 6–4, 6–3.
- Djokovic total games won = 12
- Ruud total games won = 7
Handicap Scenarios:
- Djokovic –4.5 games
- Djokovic’s adjusted score = 12 – 4.5 = 7.5
- Ruud’s adjusted score = 7
Djokovic still wins → bet wins.
- Djokovic –6.5 games
- Djokovic’s adjusted score = 12 – 6.5 = 5.5
- Ruud’s adjusted score = 7
Ruud wins after handicap → bet loses.
- Ruud +4.5 games
- Ruud’s adjusted score = 7 + 4.5 = 11.5
- Djokovic’s adjusted score = 12
Very close, but Djokovic still edges it → Ruud bet loses.
- Ruud +5.5 games
- Ruud’s adjusted score = 7 + 5.5 = 12.5
- Djokovic’s adjusted score = 12
Ruud wins after handicap → bet wins.
Key Points to Remember
- Favorites need to win by enough games to cover the negative handicap.
- Underdogs can lose the match but still win the handicap bet if they keep it close.
- Handicaps often come in 0.5 increments (e.g., +3.5, –5.5), so there’s no tie.
Betting Tips for Game Handicap in Tennis
- Check playing styles – Defensive players (like Ruud or Schwartzman) often keep matches close, making +handicap bets valuable.
- Surface matters – On faster courts (grass, hard), dominant servers like Djokovic or Medvedev may cover big negative handicaps more easily.
- Tournament stage – Early rounds often have mismatches, so strong favorites may cover large handicaps. In finals, matches are tighter, so underdog +handicap can be smart.
- Form & fatigue – A tired favorite might win but not by a large margin → underdog +handicap bet could cash.
- Best-of-3 vs Best-of-5 – In Grand Slams (best-of-5), there’s more chance for a big handicap cover by favorites.
Would you like me to also explain the difference between Game Handicap and Set Handicap in tennis (since many bettors mix them up)?