What Does Home (-1.5) Mean in Tennis Sports Betting?
In tennis sports betting, Home (-1.5) refers to a game handicap bet placed on the home player (or Player 1) to win by more than 1.5 sets or games, depending on the type of handicap offered by the sportsbook.
This means the home player must win comfortably — not just win the match, but win by a margin greater than 1.5. The “-1.5” is a handicap that is subtracted from the player’s final total for betting purposes.
How the Home (-1.5) Handicap Works
There are two main types of -1.5 handicaps in tennis:
- Set Handicap (-1.5 Sets) – The home player must win by at least 2 sets.
- Game Handicap (-1.5 Games) – The home player must win by at least 2 games more than the opponent when total games are counted.
Example 1: Set Handicap (-1.5 Sets)
Let’s say you bet on Home (-1.5 sets) in the following match:
- Carlos Alcaraz (Home) vs. Hubert Hurkacz (Away)
Your bet: Alcaraz -1.5 sets
Possible outcomes:
- Alcaraz wins 2–0 or 3–0 → You win your bet.
- Alcaraz wins 3–2 or 2–1 → You lose your bet because he didn’t win by 2 clear sets.
- Alcaraz loses → You lose the bet.
Explanation: Since you gave Alcaraz a -1.5 set handicap, he must dominate the match and win straight sets to cover that margin.
Example 2: Game Handicap (-1.5 Games)
Let’s say the same match is offered on a game handicap:
- Carlos Alcaraz (Home -1.5 Games) vs. Hubert Hurkacz
If the final score is:
- 6–4, 6–4 (Total Games: 12–8) → Alcaraz wins by 4 games, your bet wins.
- 7–6, 4–6, 6–4 (Total Games: 17–16) → Alcaraz wins by 1 game, your bet loses.
Why Bettors Choose Home (-1.5)
- To get better odds when a player is a clear favorite.
- When you expect a dominant win without tight sets.
- To increase value compared to just betting on the home player to win outright.
Expert Betting Tips for Home (-1.5) in Tennis
- Analyze Player Strengths – Pick players known for consistency and dominance, like Novak Djokovic, Iga Świątek, or Carlos Alcaraz.
- Check Surface Advantage – Some players excel on specific surfaces (e.g., Nadal on clay). Use that to your benefit.
- Study Head-to-Head Records – If the home player regularly beats the opponent in straight sets, a -1.5 bet is ideal.
- Avoid Unpredictable Matches – Skip matches involving young, inconsistent, or injury-prone players.
- Use Live Betting Wisely – If the home player starts strong, betting live on -1.5 can still bring good odds.
Example Betting Scenario
Match: Daniil Medvedev (Home) vs. Alex de Minaur (Away)
Bet: Home (-1.5 Sets)
If Medvedev wins 3–0, your bet wins.
If he wins 3–2, your bet loses.
If he loses, your bet loses.
So you’re betting on a straight-sets or dominant win.
Final Thoughts
Betting on Home (-1.5) in tennis is a smart move when you believe the home player will dominate the match. It offers higher odds than a simple “to win” bet and rewards bettors who can accurately predict strong performances.
Always study form, surface, and matchups before placing your bet. With proper analysis, the Home (-1.5) handicap can be a profitable tennis betting strategy.