Total Games Over 18.5 in Tennis Betting Explained: A Full Guide

Total Games Over 18.5 bet in tennis means you’re betting that the total number of games played in a match will be 19 or more. 

The name might vary depending on your bookie — “Total: Over 18.5,” “Total Match Games Over 18.5,” or “Total Games 2-Way Over 18.5” — but the concept is the same.

To win this bet, the match needs to total 19 or more games (like 6-4, 6-3, which equals 19 games, or 7-5, 7-6, which totals 25 games). If the match ends with fewer than 19 games, your bet goes bust. 

Here’s how it looks at Stake.com:

How Is a Total Games Over 18.5 Bet Calculated?

Let’s break down how the Total Games Over 18.5 bet works with a simple example.

Imagine you’ve put down a $100 wager at odds of 2.00 (even money). The outcome of your bet depends entirely on how many games are played in the match:

If the match reaches 19 games or more (e.g., 6-4, 6-3 = 19 games), you’re walking away with $200. But if the match ends with 18 games or fewer (like 6-2, 6-1 = 15 games), you get nothing. If the match is canceled or voided, you’ll just get your initial $100 back.

Key Factors to Consider Before Betting Total Games Over 18.5

When you’re thinking about placing a bet on Over 18.5 total games in a tennis match, there are a few key factors you’ll want to keep in mind:

Bo3 vs. Bo5 Format

First, figure out if it’s a Best-of-Three (Bo3) or Best-of-Five (Bo5) match. Most ATP and WTA events are Bo3, making it easier for games to end under 19. But in Grand Slam men’s matches (Bo5), expect more games due to the extended format.

The Favorite vs. Underdog Setup

When a heavy favorite is playing, especially in a Bo3, they might dominate and close things out quickly, making it tough to reach 19 games. But when the matchup is tight — like two evenly ranked players going head-to-head — those sets can go easily push the total past 19 games.

Men’s vs. Women’s Matches

In WTA matches (Bo3 format), it’s common to see games hover in the 18-19 game range when a top seed faces a lower-ranked player. But if you’re betting on a match between top-tier athletes like Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka, those games can stretch beyond 22.

For men’s tennis, particularly at the ATP 250 or 500 level, Bo3 matches can land anywhere from 21-23 games, especially if there’s a tiebreak.

Player Quality & Match Level

When elite players like Djokovic, Alcaraz, or Medvedev are involved, even a Bo3 match can hit 26+ games. In Bo5, especially in later rounds of Grand Slams, it’s common to see game totals pushing well beyond 36.

Just remember, these numbers are averages — they don’t guarantee a 100% win. Always consider the specific context of the match you’re betting on.