How Does Tennis Score Work?

If you’re new to tennis or just want to know how tennis scoring works, this article will give you a basic rundown of how points are scored in a tennis match.

Introduction

Tennis scoring can be a bit confusing, but once you understand it, it’s actually pretty simple. In tennis, each point starts with a score of zero, called “love.” From there, the server tries to score points by serving the ball into the other player’s court. If the receiver manages to return the ball, then both players have a chance to score points. However, if the server fails to return the ball, then he or she loses the point. Players can also lose points if they make mistakes, such as hitting the ball outside of the court or hitting it into the net.

The first player to reach four points wins the game. However, if both players reach three points each, then the game is considered “deuce” and both players have another chance to score. The first player to reach seven points wins the game. If both players tie at six points apiece, then they play a tiebreaker game to determine the winner.

Tennis scoring may seem complicated at first, but once you understand the basics, it’s actually quite simple. So get out there and start playing!

The Basics of Tennis Scoring

In tennis, a player scores a point when the opponent is unable to return the ball within the prescribed dimensions of the court. The activity of scorekeeping is usually initiated by the serving player, who shouts the score before each point. The scorekeeper then records the score.

Love

Love is the most basic score in tennis. It means that both players have zero points.

fifteen (15),
thirty (30),
forty (40), or
game point.

Deuce is when both players have 40 points. If the score gets to deuce, then the next player to win a point wins the game. This can happen in one of two ways: either by winning the next point outright, or by earning a advantage and then winning the next point. If a player has advantage, it means that they have the chance to win the game on the next point.

Fifteen

In tennis, “fifteen” means the first point scored in a game. In a singles match, the first player to win four points wins the game. In a doubles match, the first team to win six points wins the game. If both opponents have won three points each, the score is called “deuce,” and one more point must be scored to decide the game.

Thirty

The first number always indicates the score of the player who is serving. So, 30-15 means that the server’s score is 30 and the receiver’s score is 15. The next point scored by the server will result in a score of 40. If the receiver scores the next point, it will be 40-30. The following point scored by either player will result in a deuce, or tie score, of 40-40.

Forty

Forty is the next score after thirty and is when one player needs two more points to win the game. Forty is also referred to as “two games all” or “deuce”. If the score reaches deuce, then the next player to win a point will win the game.

Deuce

Deuce is the point at which both tennis players have scored three points each. The player who scores the next point will win the game, provided they score again to win by two clear points.

If the score reaches deuce, the next point is especially important as it gives the player who wins it a chance to take the lead in the game. This is known as having ‘the advantage’.

If one player has the advantage and scores another point, they win the game. If their opponent scores the next point, then the score goes back to deuce since both players now have three points each.

Advantage

In tennis, “advantage” indicates that the player who currently possesses the advantage will win the next point if no mistakes are made. The term “advantage” is only used when the score reaches deuce. At any other time in the game, the score is simply called out as “15-love,” “30-love,” or whatever it may be. The player who wins four points first wins the game, regardless of whether or not they had to play to advantage.

Winning the Game

The first player to win four points in a game wins that game. A player wins a point by having the advantage over the other player and winning the point. If the score is tied at deuce, the player who wins the next point wins the game.

First to Four Games

In a tennis match, the first player to win four games wins the set. If the score reaches three games all, or deuce, then whichever player wins two consecutive points wins the game. If each player wins one point in succession, the score is said to be advantage in or ad-in for short. If the next point is also won by that player, they have won the advantage and go on to win the game. However, if their opponent wins the next point, they win the advantage back and it is said to be ad-out or advantage out. When this happens, the score reverts back to deuce and play starts again from there.

First to Seven Games (Pro Set)

A pro set in tennis is the next step up from a regular set. In a pro set, the players play until one of them wins eight games by a margin of two or more games. For example, if the score is 8-6, 8-5, or 9-7, the match is over. The first player to win eight games wins the set.

If both players have won seven games each and the score is 7-7, they play a tiebreaker. In a tiebreaker, the players keep playing until one of them wins seven points by a margin of two or more points. For example, if the score in the tiebreaker is 6-4 or 7-5, the match is over. The first player to seven points wins the tiebreaker and the set.

Two out of Three Sets

In order to win a tennis match, a player must win two out of three sets. A set is won when a player wins six games and is ahead by at least two games. For example, if the score is 6-4, 6-5, the player must win the next game in order to win the set. If the score becomes 6-6, a tie-breaker is played.

The tie-breaker is usually played to seven points, but it can also be played to ten points if both players agree to it before the start of the match. In order to win the tie-breaker, a player must be ahead by at least two points. For example, if the score is 7-5, 7-6, 7-7, the player who wins the next point will win the set.

First to Ten Games (Super Tiebreaker)

In professional tennis, a match is typically best out of three or five sets. In order to win a set, you must be the first player to win six games by a margin of two games. If the score reaches six games all, also known as a tiebreaker situation, then the player who wins the next game wins the set. The first player to win two sets in a best of three match, or three sets in a best of five match, is declared the winner.

In a super tiebreaker, the first player to win ten points by a margin of two points wins the set. This format is typically used in cases where time is limited, such as when television schedules dictate the length of matches.

Conclusion

In tennis, a player scores a point when they win a rally against their opponent. The game is played with either two or four players, and each player starts with a score of zero. The score goes up by one point for every rally that is won. The first player to reach four points wins the game. If the score reaches three points each, then the game is said to be ‘deuce’ and the next point scored wins the game.