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(7 - 18 October) Last year was a bloodbath for favourites in Shanghai, with underdogs returning 39% ROI. Will 2026 be any different? My preview looks at court speed, balls, weather and the early stats from qualifying.

At 1-1 in sets, the set 2 winner wins 53% of the time, in both the ATP and the WTA. And with the same pre-match odds, winning the last set still makes a difference.

(30 September - 6 October) Long rallies, few winners and a lot of breaks. With slow courts and balls that fluff up fast, Beijing punishes aggressive players, especially at night. Medvedev knows it well.

(30 September - 6 October) The numbers say Tokyo is a medium-pace court, but most players say it plays fast, with a low bounce. Winners like Shelton, Fritz and Medvedev tell us a lot too.

(23 - 29 September) Medium-pace surface, slow conditions. In Hangzhou the humidity and heat pull the hard court back toward medium pace — and long, draining matches are on the table.

(23 - 29 September) By first-serve points won, only Brisbane ranks above Chengdu over the last three editions. Add 500m altitude, a low bounce and heavy humidity — a big-server's court.

Favorites vs underdogs month by month since 2010, best of 3 only. The end of the season shows nothing, but July and August break the usual pattern.

FavOrDog is my own tennis betting analytics tool — 41,000+ ATP matches since 2010, Pinnacle closing odds. Why I built it, how I use it, andhow you can access it Free.

What are betting brokers? Complete guide with 20 years of experience. BetInAsia & MadMarket reviewed + exclusive 0.11% lifetime cashback.

What happens if you bet on the player who just beat Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Alcaraz or Sinner? How does he do in his next match? Results inside.

Since 2010, systematically backing US players at their home Slam has lost money. A look at 392 matches — and why the market seems to overprice home players.

Nobody bets a 29.00 underdog like a 1.30 favorite. Unit impact is the staking method that admits it — and it changes how betting records read.

For 16 years, backing favorites has quietly lost money at the US Open — the only Grand Slam where the market gets them wrong. Here is what the data shows.

(23 - 29 August) The last ATP stop before the US Open plays like two tournaments: fast and hot by day, slower and humid at night. Speed data, weather, past champions and the draw.

The two M1000 events leading into the US Open — the Canadian Open and Cincinnati — have historically favored underdogs over favorites. The gap reaches 12 points of ROI.

(13 - 23 August) Five years of data confirm Cincinnati as one of the quickest hard courts on the calendar: 73.8% of first-serve points won, lively balls and a slight altitude boost at 235 m.

A detailed look at the bet broker BetInAsia. How it works, and why I've been using it for years. Plus an exclusive 0.11% lifetime cashback you won't find anywhere else.

( 2 - 13 August) Medium-paced hard courts and a strong history of underdogs. Everything you need before betting on the 2026 Toronto Masters 1000, from speed data to conditions.

(27 July - 1 August) One of the slowest hard courts on the circuit, with high bounce and brutal heat and humidity. Preview of the Los Cabos ATP 250 with conditions and past winners.

( 27 July - 2 August) Medium-paced on average—but fast by day, slower at night. Washington's heat and humidity favour big servers with the fitness for a demanding week.

We dug into 910 matches since 2010 to find out when betting against a finalist actually pays — and when it doesn't.

(20-26 July) Players call Estoril fast. The data ranks it 53rd of 57 for speed. Serve stats, past champions, weather and player quotes for the 2026 edition.

(20 - 25 July) Clay, but fast. At 750+ meters of altitude, Kitzbühel plays quicker than most clay events. Speed data, past champions, weather and player quotes for the 2026 edition.

Every July, part of the ATP tour jumps from grass straight back to clay. I analyzed 1,197 matches in Gstaad, Bastad and Umag to see if this tough transition creates value on underdogs.

(13 - 19 July) Slow clay by the sea: speed data, five years of winners, weather outlook and player quotes on the wind that makes Bastad fertile ground for upsets.

(13 - 19 July) The fastest clay of the season, thanks to +1,000m of altitude. Big servers and hard-court players thrive here — don't let the word "clay" fool you.

(13 - 18 July) Slow clay that rewards the specialists, plus heat and humidity that punish the afternoon starters. Here's what to watch before betting Umag 2026.

Favourites +0.6%, underdogs -10.0% over 1,871 Wimbledon matches since 2010. Dogs still lose — but far less than at the Australian Open or Roland Garros. The likely reason: grass.

(22 - 27 June) The slowest grass on tour — slower even than some clay. And if the Eastbourne wind picks up, conditions level further, rewarding grinders over big servers.

(21 - 27 June) One of the fastest courts on tour — but hotter and higher-bouncing than Halle or Queen's. Why Mallorca's grass rewards players who arrive early enough to adapt.

An underdog who takes the opening set looks like a safe bet. The data says otherwise — and what happens next depends on two things: how big an underdog he is, and whether it's best-of-3 or best-of-5.

( 15 - 21 June) Queen's 2026 preview: 5-year speed data, where it ranks among grass courts, the warm London forecast, recent champions, and why the serve dominates on these fast courts.

(15 - 21 June) The Terra Wortmann Open returns to Halle's fast grass. Speed numbers, the week's weather swing, recent champions and what the players say about one of the quickest courts.

Favorites returned -3.2% and underdogs +1.1% across 2,712 ATP grass matches before Wimbledon. Not a profitable angle, but a gap worth monitoring.

(8 - 14 June) Stuttgart is the fastest tournament on the circuit: quick grass, low bounce, warm conditions. Strong servers thrive, and players coming through qualifying might hold an edge.

(8 - 14 June) 's-Hertogenbosch kicks off the grass season at a medium pace. Servers still hold the edge, but there's slightly more margin to play from the baseline.

Zverev's price dropped sharply before facing Jodar. The likely cause was the rain forecast. Here is how weather can change the true odds of a tennis match.

If you're primarily an underdog bettor, this is for you. And if you are not, you should know this info too. Did you know Roland Garros is the ATP…

(17 - 23 May) Slow clay, made slower by weather. Hamburg's humid, rainy week should produce heavy courts where patient clay tennis is rewarded — and where time of day matters more than usual.

(17 - 23 May) Clay on paper, fast in practice. At about 400m altitude, Geneva plays among the quickest clay weeks on tour. The second half of the week should play even quicker as temperatures rise.

Moneyline, handicaps, totals — bookmakers apply different settlement rules after retirements. You need to know exactly which rules your bookmakers follow.

( 6 - 17 May) Medium-pace clay at sea level. Slower than Madrid, faster than Monte Carlo. Conditions shift significantly between day and night. Speed data, weather forecast and player quotes.

(22 April 3 April) The Mutua Madrid Open is played on clay, but altitude makes it the fastest clay Masters: short rallies, high bounce, and a hard-court feel that rewards big servers.

Which ATP players overperform in tie-breaks relative to their level? Comparing tie-break win % against games won % reveals some surprising names — including Nadal.

(13 - 19 April) Barcelona ranks among the slowest clay courts on tour. Mild weather this week keeps conditions heavy — a clear edge for patient baseliners.

(13 - 19 April) Munich's altitude accelerates the ball through the air, but cold and humid conditions slow it on the ground. Understanding the daily weather is key to reading this draw.

(5 - 12 April) Monte-Carlo is the slowest clay Masters 1000 on the circuit. Average spring conditions this week favor pure clay courters — and punish big servers.

(31 March - 5 April) Bucharest's clay posts the lowest first-serve points won on the ATP Tour — 64.8%. With cool, wet weather forecast, conditions will be even heavier this week.

(30 March - 5 April) Houston plays unusually fast for clay — closer to hard court conditions. Big servers and Americans dominate, making it one of the circuit's most unique clay events.

(30 March - 5 April) Clay courts at nearly 500 meters altitude, no rain in the forecast. That combination makes Marrakech play faster than most clay venues.

(18 - 29 March) Miami Open plays faster than Indian Wells — but conditions shift dramatically between day and night. Wind, humidity, and court selection specially matter here.

6,000+ bets. 16 years. Underdogs have clearly outperformed Favorites at Pinnacle closing odds in Masters 1000 hard courts. Full analysis here.

The Court Pace Index (CPI) measures tennis court speed. Here's how it's calculated — and what the data across all major tournaments actually shows.

Bet105 offers sharp odds, high limits, and no KYC — available worldwide, crypto only. Here's my review after using it myself.

BetUnfair is a tool that tracks Pinnacle odds, removes the vig, and finds +EV bets. Worth €120/mo — get 30 days free with my exclusive link + code.

Indian Wells has historically been one of the worst tournaments for betting favorites. We break down the numbers — and ask whether this reflects a systematic market inefficiency.

(4 - 15 March) Indian Wells 2026 qualifying data came in at 72.4% first serve points won — the highest in at least five years. Here's what the numbers tell us.

Jarry led 6–2 in the tie-break. Five match points. All wasted. With certain players, hedging your prematch bet live isn't optional — it's smart.

I lost a lot of money betting against injured tennis players. Since some years ago, I'm convinced the live market overreacts — and the value is on the other side.

(23 February - 1 March) Santiago's altitude turns clay into a fast surface. Big day-night speed swings, adaptation time matters specially and court quality has frustrated players in the past.

(23 - 28 February) Acapulco is one of the slowest hard courts on tour. High bounce, humid night sessions, and grinding rallies — conditions where clay-courters can thrive.

(23 - 28 February) Dubai hosts one of the fastest outdoor hard courts on tour. The ball flies, the bounce is high in the heat, and the Doha-to-Dubai transition catches players off guard every year.

Favorites have been a losing bet in Rio since 2010. The data shows a statistically significant gap with underdogs — and the brutal playing conditions might explain why.

( 16- 22 February) One of the slowest outdoor hard courts on tour. Delray Beach's high humidity makes the ball heavy and conditions grueling — key factors to consider this week.

(16 - 22 February) Court speed data, humidity analysis, and player insights reveal why Rio's slow clay is among the toughest on tour—and why underdogs consistently outperform here.

(16 - 21 February) Doha is played on slow hard outdoor courts. Variable wind conditions is a key factor, influencing pace throughout the week. Alcaraz and Sinner headline the draw.

I've been working with a betting syndicate as an external contributor. Here's how the deal is structured, how they use my picks, and what I've learned so far.

(9 - 15 February) The Dallas is played on indoor hard courts at the Ford Center in Frisco. Since the 2025 venue change, data points to a medium-pace surface with a relatively low bounce.

(9 - 15 February) The Buenos Aires marks the start of the clay season, featuring slow courts and conditions that reward clay specialists and well-acclimated players arriving from recent clay.

(9 - 15 February) Rotterdam's indoor courts present an intriguing puzzle: players describe slow, heavy conditions, yet the statistics tell a different story. Here's what the data really shows.

Match-fixing in tennis won’t disappear, but stronger oversight and higher prize money suggest it’s declining — and it should keep falling over the next few years.

(2 - 8 February) Montpellier’s indoor hard courts appeared historically slow, but 2025 data suggests a clear speed shift, likely from resurfacing. This faster conditions should favour big servers.

Summary of a The Economist article on how bookmakers detect and block data-savvy gamblers — and how some manage to get around those restrictions.

Following tennis players on Insta - and their partners - can reveal rest periods the market ignores, adding valuable info to helps bettors find small edges.

A data-driven analysis of how Grand Slam matches are decided, from straight-sets wins to five-set battles and retirements.

Betting on underdogs at the Australian Open (Women) is a losing game, but less negative than in the men, due to the best-of-3 format.

Discover why betting on underdogs at the Australian Open is a financial disaster. An analysis of 2,008 matches reveals a brutal -20.1% yield.

Data analysis of 40,000 ATP matches proves the Favorite-Longshot Bias in betting. Underdogs yield -5.6% vs -2.0% on favorites. See the evidence.

The Favorite-Longshot Bias is a concept any serious bettor should know. It can save you a lot of money if you often bet on big underdogs.

(12 - 17 January, 2026) Adelaide ranks among the fastest outdoor tournaments. Dry heat makes the ball fly, but night sessions bring slower, lower-bounce conditions.

(12 - 17 January, 2026) Auckland’s courts are quick, but the constant wind slows rallies, making the surface play closer to medium pace than raw speed suggests.

(5 - 11 January, 2026) Hong Kong returns with medium-paced hard courts, mild temperatures and moderate humidity. Clay courters could find opportunities here.

(4 - 11 January, 2026) Brisbane kicks off the season on one of the fastest outdoor hard courts on tour. Big servers thrive here. Heat and humidity will be key factors.