You may have heard the terms “pro-level” and “amateur” tennis used to describe matches between professionals and amateurs. These terms are often used interchangeably, however, there are important differences between the two types of competitions.
For starters, professional tennis is generally considered to be a more prestigious and difficult game than amateur tennis. At the same time, professional tennis contracts are generally more lucrative and offer better coverage by sportsbooks than amateur tennis contracts. The above factors make professional tennis more attractive to top-tier tennis players and to sportsbooks as a whole. Consequently, this article will examine the differences between professional and amateur tennis and how these factors affect betting on a match.
When Is A Tennis Match Officially Recognized As Professional?
In most cases, a tennis match will be recognized as a professional match once tenets have been officially accepted as professional tournaments. Before this date, the game was generally considered to be an “amateur” sport and sportsbooks did not offer betting odds on these matches. For instance, the Australian Open started offering odds on matches in 1973 and the French Open followed suit in 1974.
This is not to say that amateur tennis did not exist prior to these dates or that the game did not have a number of pro leagues at the international level. It simply means that the vast majority of tennis matches were not considered professional at the time and odds were not available for those matches. Thanks to the efforts of organizations such as the ITF (International Tennis Federation), sportsbooks can now offer betting on professional tennis and many now do. In some cases, these organizations will sanction an “amateur” tournament and then have a “professional” tournament within the same season. The above example is the BNP Paribas Open in Paris, which is sanctioned by the ITF and recognizes its matches as professional tournaments.
Acceptance Into The International Tennis Federation
The ITF is the governing body for tennis around the world and oversees the administration of the sport. Any country can be a member of the ITF and the organization sets the rules for the game worldwide. To be accepted into the organization, a country must follow specific criteria and agreements.
One of the most important things a country can do to gain recognition from the ITF is to organize a tennis tournament between pro teams. In addition to this, a country must also field a national team in international tournaments and prove that it is able to organize an international tournament.
Amateur Tennis
Amateur tennis is played on a level playing field and is considered to be a sport for everyone. This is one of the reasons why odds are generally not available on these matches and why playing at the professional level does not guarantee you will be able to beat an amateur.
In general, an amateur tennis match will be a “best-of-three” sets competition, with the exception of the Grand Slams, which are usually played on a “best-of-five” format. The first set is typically played on a hard surface with the other sets being played on clay courts. Hard courts are typically faster than clay courts and higher-quality tennis balls are used on them, resulting in more aggressive play.
In addition to this, the ITF also sanctions amateur tournaments and gives them official status. The vast majority of tennis matches, however, are not recognized as amateurs by the ITF. This is because the governing body sets the rules for the game and only tournaments that meet their criteria will be granted the “amateur” label.
Betting On An Unofficial Match
Despite not being accepted as a professional tournament by the ITF, some tennis matches are considered to be “unofficial” matches and are, therefore, recognized as professional and amateurs can play them. These matches are often played by professional teams in international competitions and can also be played between individuals for fun. Because these matches are not sanctioned by the ITF, they are not considered professional, but can be a source of income for players. Thanks to the efforts of tennis players such as John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg, who were instrumental in the creation of the game, it is now possible to bet on these types of matches.
Due to the nature of the game, it is not always possible to bet on these matches; if the match goes the full three sets, you will not be able to place a bet on it. At the same time, some bookmakers may not offer odds on these unofficials matches, so it is vital that customers are aware of this fact before they place a bet.
The Pros And Cons Of Betting On A Tennis Match
Depending on your personal views on the matter, you may or may not want to bet on a tennis match. For those who believe the game is for fun, it can be a way of making money from sports they follow. At the same time, for individuals who play professionally, there is the danger of losing large sums of money if they make a wrong selection. This is mainly because the professionals are in it for the big money and are generally considered to be more skilled than the average person.
Pro-level professional tennis is a very competitive sport and those who play it are highly skilled. In the right hands, it can be a lucrative career but this also means there is a lot of risk involved. It is vital that sportsbooks determine the correct odds for these matches and as previously stated, the odds are generally not available for amateur matches. If you are ever fortunate enough to witness a professional match live, you should be aware there is a lot of money on the line and that betting on these matches is not for the faint-hearted.
What Should You Watch Out For?
As a rule of thumb, you should always watch out for the person winning the most championships. These are the players most likely to win in the long run and can be extremely valuable to a betting pool. At the same time, you should also look out for players who have the highest rating possible.
To put it simply, the higher a player’s rating, the more skilled they are and the more capable they are of winning. This is why the ratings matter so much and why you should always look out for them. Having a high rating also helps a player in qualifying for tournaments, which can lead to more lucrative career opportunities in the future. In the same vein, you should also try to keep an eye out for players who are consistent in their good performances and win a lot of matches.
The above elements should help you identify the best bets for tennis matches, enabling you to make some profitable wagers. In addition to this, it is also important to look out for the lines for each specific match, taking into consideration the time of day the match is being played and the venue. For instance, if you are watching the match at a country club, you should look for the odds and lines for that venue, rather than using the generic odds and lines for all tennis venues. This will help you make the right selection and maximize your earnings.