What Does Under 23.5 Mean in Tennis Betting?
Under 23.5 is a total games market in tennis betting.
It means:
You are betting that the total number of games played in a match will be less than 24 (i.e. 23 or fewer games).
- 23.5 is a half-point line, so a total of exactly 24 games = a loss.
- If the total is 23 or less = your bet wins.
How Total Games Are Calculated
Count all games played in the match across all sets.
Examples of game counts:
- Set won 6–4 = 10 games
- Set won 7–6 = 13 games
- Set won 6–0 = 6 games
Examples of Winning and Losing Bets
Winning Bets (Under 23.5)
| Match Result | Game Breakdown | Total Games | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–2, 6–3 | 8 + 9 | 17 | Win |
| 7–5, 6–4 | 12 + 10 | 22 | Win |
| 6–3, 7–6 | 9 + 13 | 22 | Win |
Even a tiebreak in one set can still stay under 23.5 if the other set is short.
Losing Bets (Under 23.5)
| Match Result | Game Breakdown | Total Games | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–4, 5–7, 6–3 | 10 + 12 + 9 | 31 | Loss |
| 7–6, 6–7, 6–3 | 13 + 13 + 9 | 35 | Loss |
| 6–4, 7–6 | 10 + 13 | 23 | (Still wins) |
| 7–6, 7–6 | 13 + 13 | 26 | Loss |
Two tiebreaks (7–6, 7–6) = always 26 games, so automatic loss.
Best Situations to Bet Under 23.5
- Mismatch between players
- When a strong player is likely to win easily in straight sets.
- E.g., Novak Djokovic vs. lower-ranked player.
- Slow servers or weak returners
- Matches that are less likely to go to tiebreaks.
- Clay court surfaces
- More breaks of serve, fewer long sets.
- E.g., Roland Garros.
When to Avoid Under 23.5
- If both players have big serves (e.g., Isner, Opelka).
- On fast surfaces like grass or indoor hard courts.
- In evenly matched contests likely to go 3 sets (ATP/WTA best of 3).
Tips for Betting Under 23.5
- Check recent form – Are the players winning matches quickly?
- Head-to-head history – Have they had quick matches before?
- Court surface – Clay favors Under more than grass.
- Fatigue/injury – A struggling player might give up a set easily.
Example Betting Scenario
Match: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Yannick Hanfmann
Surface: Clay
Bookmaker Line: Under 23.5 total games @ 1.85
Prediction: Alcaraz wins 6–3, 6–2 → Total = 17 games → You win the bet
Would you like the same explanation for Over 23.5 or help comparing markets like total sets or handicaps?