What Does “1st Set – 4th Ace” Mean?
This bet focuses on ace numbering within the 1st set of a tennis match.
You are predicting which player will hit the 4th ace of the 1st set.
- It does not matter who wins the set.
- It does not matter how many total aces are hit.
- You only care about who hits the 4th ace inside that first set.
How It Works
The sportsbook assigns options like:
- Player A to hit the 4th ace in 1st Set
- Player B to hit the 4th ace in 1st Set
You select one.
This bet becomes active as soon as the match starts and continues until the fourth ace is recorded in the first set.
Example Using a Specific Player
Let’s use John Isner, known for his huge serve.
Scenario:
Match: John Isner vs Diego Schwartzman
Set 1 Ace Sequence
- Ace 1 → Isner
- Ace 2 → Isner
- Ace 3 → Isner
- Ace 4 → Isner
If you placed a bet on:
Isner to hit the 4th ace — you win.
Schwartzman to hit the 4th ace — you lose.
Alternative Scenario:
Set 1 Ace Sequence
- Ace 1 → Isner
- Ace 2 → Schwartzman
- Ace 3 → Isner
- Ace 4 → Schwartzman
In this case:
Schwartzman bettors win
Isner bettors lose
Why Player Choice Matters
Some players produce many aces per match (big servers), while others rarely produce aces.
Big servers likely to hit multiple aces:
- John Isner
- Reilly Opelka
- Matteo Berrettini
- Hubert Hurkacz
- Nick Kyrgios (when active)
These types of players are usually favourites in ace-number bets.
Players with fewer aces:
- Diego Schwartzman
- Carlos Alcaraz (relies more on baseline rallies)
- Casper Ruud
- Daniil Medvedev (gets aces but not high numbers)
So if a big server is playing a defensive returner, the big server is often expected to hit the 4th ace in the first set.
Example Breakdown (Isner vs Hurkacz)
Both players are strong servers; betting becomes tricky.
Set 1 Ace Sequence
- Ace 1 → Hurkacz
- Ace 2 → Isner
- Ace 3 → Hurkacz
- Ace 4 → Isner
Here the winner is Isner, but it’s much less predictable because both players are strong servers.
Key Betting Tips
Check surface
- Hard courts → more aces.
- Grass → even more aces (Wimbledon often has big server battles).
- Clay → fewer aces (ball slows down).
On clay, this market is less predictable unless one player heavily dominates the serve.
Study serving statistics
Look at:
- Aces per match
- 1st serve percentage
- Opponent’s return percentage
Players with poor return ability allow more aces.
Don’t rely on rankings
A top-10 returner may hit fewer aces than a top-50 big server.
Example:
Schwartzman (top-10 returner) rarely hits aces.
Opelka (top-30 server) hits many even when losing.
Track head-to-head patterns
Some server-heavy players dominate certain opponents.
Example:
Isner vs Murray = fewer aces for Isner
because Murray returns extremely well.
Use live betting opportunities
If you are watching the match and see:
- Player is hitting aces consistently
- Opponent is struggling with serve returns
You may find value before the 4th ace is hit.
Summary
“1st Set – 4th Ace” = Bet on who hits the fourth ace in the first set.
- Focus on serve strength
- Consider surface
- Look at return skill of opponent
- Use head-to-head statistics