Everyone will have different tennis betting strategies, which will often include reading expert tips from sites like this one. However, not all types of analysis are given equal weighting. Form, of course, is arguably the most important indicator for any selection. Other elements too, such as surface (it’s a brave punter who goes against Rafael Nadal on clay), age and experience are also factored in.

But there are other elements sometimes given less attention, particularly by the casual bettor. Moreover, it’s worth remembering that the options for betting on a tennis match are a lot more extensive than win-lose. Below we pick out four areas that we believe punters sometimes overlook before making their betting selections:

Opponent’s Serve Speed

If you have followed the career of John Isner, you’ll know that the American can deliver bombs like few others. In fact, he tops the list of fastest recorded serves of all time. But Isner has other records, too, including recording the longest two matches at Wimbledon. It’s no coincidence as, put simply, it’s very difficult to break Isner’s serve. Opponents like him should, therefore, be treated with caution when picking markets like set handicap betting. His serving prowess often leads to tight games, including plenty of tie-breakers. Even against the world’s best, big servers like Isner rarely get hammered, even if they ultimately come up short.

Weather and Climate

It’s normal to think that all players must face the same conditions, but it’s worth remembering that the weather can impact each player differently. A wet surface, for example, tends to lessen the impact of shots with heavy spin. And extreme heat might favour those players who can cope with faster play as the pressure inside the ball increases the speed. The Guardian produced a detailed analysis of this, and it’s the kind of thing that should be incorporated into any tennis betting strategy.

Travel Arrangements

In horse racing, there’s often a focus on where the runner has won before and where they have travelled from to take part in the race. The idea is that the journey and new surroundings can impact the horse’s performance. Tennis players aren’t horses, of course, but long journeys can be detrimental to success. Consider how you feel jetlagged after a long-haul flight and imagine playing a tennis tournament not long after. If a player is in Dubai, for instance, one week, then off to Cincinnati for a match the next, they might see their edge drop every so slightly.

Unstructured Data

This may be the most difficult element to frame. When we think of structured data, we are considering stuff we can quantify – form, win/loss record on a particular surface, and so on. Unstructured data is the unquantifiable stuff – a player’s frame of mind, private life, relationship with a coach, etc. You might consider the example of Naomi Osaka. It’s easy to see the quantifiable stuff with arguably the best women’s player on the planet. But Osaka, and we say this with the utmost respect for someone dealing with sensitive issues, the unstructured data can play a part in the outcome of the match. Nick Kyrgios, too, is the kind of player you’d like to factor in mindset before he takes to the court.