Set betting markets in tennis give you ways to bet on the structure of a match beyond simply who wins. Will the favourite fail to drop a single set? Will the underdog take at least one set? Will any set end in a tiebreak? These markets are separate from Match Winner and settle independently of who wins the match.
What is "Competitor to Win a Set"?
This market asks whether a specific player will win at least one set in the match. It is a yes/no proposition — not which set, just whether the player wins any set at all.
Example (Wimbledon men's, best-of-5): Djokovic vs an unseeded opponent. Market: "Will Djokovic's opponent win a set — Yes/No?" You pick Yes. Djokovic wins 3-1 — the opponent took one set. Yes wins. Djokovic wins 3-0 — No wins.
This market is particularly useful when a heavy favourite is involved. Instead of backing the favourite at low odds to win the match, you can back the underdog to win a set at higher odds — requiring only one set win, not the match.
Important: "Win a Set" settles on whether the player wins at least one set. Winning the match is not required. A player can lose the match 1-3 or 1-2 and still "win a set."
What is "Competitor to Win Exactly 1 Set" or "Exactly 2 Sets"?
This market specifies the exact number of sets a player wins — not just "at least one" but precisely the stated number.
"Exactly 1 Set": The player wins one set and loses the remaining sets. In a BO3 match, this means the player loses the match 1-2 (wins one, loses two) or possibly wins 1-? if the opponent retired after one set — but full match results are typically required.
"Exactly 2 Sets": In a BO5 match, the player wins exactly two sets. Possible match outcomes: player wins 2-3 (loses the match), or the player wins the match 3-2 (no — that's 3 sets won). So "Exactly 2 Sets" in a BO5 match usually means the player lost the match but still won two sets (a 2-3 loss).
Example (Wimbledon women's, BO3): You pick "Vondrousova wins exactly 1 set." The match ends 1-2 (Vondrousova loses) — if she won exactly one set, your selection wins. The match ends 0-2 — she won zero sets, so it loses. The match ends 2-1 — she won two sets, so it also loses.
What is "Any Set to Nil"?
"Any Set to Nil" asks whether either player will win any set 6-0 in the match. A 6-0 set is sometimes called a "bagel" in tennis commentary.
This is a yes/no market:
- Yes — at least one set in the match ends 6-0
- No — no set ends 6-0
Example: Swiatek vs a lower-ranked opponent. Swiatek wins 6-0, 6-3. The first set was 6-0 — Yes wins. Swiatek wins 6-2, 6-3. No 6-0 set — No wins.
A bagel in any set — from either player — resolves the market. You do not need to predict which player wins the bagel set.
What is "Will There Be a Tiebreak"?
This market asks whether a tiebreak will occur at any point in the match. In a standard set, a tiebreak is played when the set reaches 6-6 — first to 7 points, winning by 2.
- Yes — at least one set in the match reaches a tiebreak
- No — every set is decided conventionally (no set reaches 6-6)
Example: Alcaraz vs Sinner. The match goes 7-6, 6-4, 7-6. Two sets went to tiebreaks — Yes wins. The match goes 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. No set reached 6-6 — No wins.
Wimbledon exception: Men's singles at Wimbledon uses an advantage final set until 12-12, then plays a final-set tiebreak. A match where the final set goes to advantage may not involve a tiebreak until 12-12, or may be decided conventionally by one player winning two straight games past 12-12. The "Will There Be a Tiebreak" market typically includes the final-set tiebreak as a valid tiebreak event — check your bookmaker's rules for the specific Wimbledon final-set rule.
What happens if a player retires?
All of these markets require the match to reach a defined conclusion:
- "Win a Set" — if the player retires before winning a set but was leading, the bet may settle or void depending on the bookmaker's rules.
- "Exactly 1 Set" — typically voided if the match does not complete.
- "Any Set to Nil" — settles on whether a 6-0 set occurred before the retirement; if yes, the market may already be settled in live betting.
- "Will There Be a Tiebreak" — similar logic: if a tiebreak occurred before the retirement, the market may already be settled.
For the full breakdown of how retirement affects all tennis markets, see Tennis Match Winner Betting: Retirement and Void Rules Explained.
Links
For the complete tennis market glossary, see Tennis Betting Markets Explained.
For Wimbledon-specific format notes — including the final-set tiebreak rule and its effect on tiebreak markets — see Wimbledon Betting Markets Explained.
Frequently asked questions
Does "Win a Set" require winning the match? No. "Competitor to Win a Set" only requires the player to win at least one set — they can lose the overall match and still win this market.
If I bet "Yes" on Will There Be a Tiebreak and the match is retired before a tiebreak occurs, what happens? The market is typically voided if the match did not complete. If a tiebreak already occurred before the retirement, it may have settled mid-match depending on the bookmaker's live settlement rules.
Is "Any Set to Nil" the same as "Will There Be a 6-0 Set"? Yes — they are the same market under different labels. Some bookmakers use "Bagel in Match," others use "Any Set to Nil" or "6-0 Set in Match."
Can a BO5 match have more than one bagel set? Yes, in theory. Multiple 6-0 sets in the same match are rare but possible. A single 6-0 set is sufficient to resolve "Any Set to Nil" as Yes — additional 6-0 sets do not change the settlement.
In a BO3 match, what are the possible results for "Exactly 1 Set" for the loser? In a BO3, the loser either wins zero sets (2-0 result) or wins exactly one set (2-1 result). So "Loser wins exactly 1 set" is equivalent to predicting the match goes to three sets.