How Many Sets Are In A Tennis Match?

Learn about the standard number of sets in a tennis match and how this can vary depending on the tournament.

Introduction

A tennis match is generally played best out of three or five sets. The player who wins the majority of sets wins the match. However, if the score of the final set reaches 6-6, a tie-break is played in order to determine a winner. A tie-break is essentially a mini game played to seven points, with the player leading by two winning the set (and thus, the match).

The Number of Sets in a Tennis Match Depends on the Format

In general, most tennis matches are played as best of three sets. However, there are some tournaments that use a different format. For example, Grand Slam tournaments use a best of five sets format. So, the number of sets in a tennis match depends on the format of the tournament.

Singles

Singles matches are the most common form of tennis. They are played between two players (singles) or two teams of two players each (doubles). Singles matches can be played as best of three sets (denoted 3–0 or 3–2) or best of five sets (5–0, 5–1, 5–2, 5–3, or 5–4). The first player or team to win enough sets wins the match.

Doubles

When doubles is played, there are four players on each side of the net. The same serves-and-volleys and baseline exchanges that are found in singles can be seen in doubles as well. However, there a few special rules and court positions that are unique to this game format.

A Wimbledon or Davis Cup–level tennis match is played as best of five sets. The first four sets are played to six games all. If the score reaches four games all, then a tie-break is played to determine who wins the set. The fifth set is played to nine games all (if necessary). If the score reaches six games all in the fifth set, then a tie-break is played to determine who wins the match.

Mixed Doubles

When playing Mixed Doubles, each set is normally played to 6 games. A player or team must win by two clear games. If the score reaches 6-6, a tie-break is played. The first player or team to score 7 points wins the tie-break and wins the set 7-6.

The Number of Sets in a Tennis Match Also Depends on the Tournament

In a men’s tennis match, the best of three or five sets are usually played. A player must win by two games in a set. If the score becomes tied at 6-6 in any set, a tiebreaker is played. The first player to win seven points in the tiebreaker wins the set. A player must win by two points in the tiebreaker.

Grand Slams

At the Grand Slam events, which are the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world (and which include the Australian Open, Roland Garros [the French Open], Wimbledon, and the US Open), the traditional format is best-of-five sets for both men and women.

The deciding set at any of these events is a tiebreaker, played to 12 points with a changeover taking place at 6 points (i.e., when one player reaches 6 points, their opponent serves for the first time in that tiebreaker). If the score in that tiebreaker reaches 6-all, then it is extended until one player leads by two points.

In other words, if the score in the deciding set tiebreaker goes to 8-all, then it is effectively a 12-point tiebreaker played to 10 points. If it goes to 10-all, then it is effectively a 16-point tiebreaker played to 14 points. And so on.

Davis Cup

Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men’s tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is contested annually between teams from competing countries in a one-off knock-out tournament. A Davis Cup match is played over three days, usually on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The first two days consist of two singles matches, followed by a doubles match on the final day. In all three matches, each team can nominate four players but must select two who play in each match. If one team has a player who is unavailable for a particular tie then they may replace him with another from their squad but they cannot replace him retroactively after the draw has been made.

ATP and WTA Tournaments

The number of sets in a tennis match also depends on the tournament. The two main governing bodies for professional tennis are the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association). These organizations each have different rules for the number of sets in a match.

ATP tournaments:
ATP tournaments are governed by the ITF (International Tennis Federation). The ITF states that the best of three sets must be played if there are less than five matches scheduled in a day. If there are five or more matches scheduled, then players can choose to play the best of five sets. However, men’s Grand Slam singles matches must be played as best of five sets regardless of how many other matches are scheduled.

WTA tournaments:
WTA tournaments are not governed by the ITF and have their own set rules. For WTA tournaments, women must play the best of three sets if there are eight or fewer matches scheduled in a day. If there are nine or more matches scheduled, then women can choose to play the best of five sets. Just like men’s Grand Slam singles matches, women’s Grand Slam singles matches must be played as best of five sets regardless of how many other matches are scheduled.

Conclusion

In general, a tennis match is played best out of three or five sets. The first player to win six games wins a set, but if the score reaches 6-6, then a tiebreaker is played to determine the winner. A tiebreaker is usually played to seven points, but it can also be played to ten points. In a five-set match, the first player to win three sets wins the match.