How to Play Tennis Tiebreaker?

Learn how to play tennis tiebreaker with these easy to follow steps.

Introduction

In tennis, a tiebreaker, also called a breaker,[1][2] is a scoring method used to determine the winner of an individual game, sets, and matches in which two players are tied at scores that are equal. The tiebreaker provides a way for one player to win a game that would otherwise be drawn (a “dead heat”).[3] When used in sets, the tiebreak is sometimes known as the decider.[4][5]

The most common form of tiebreaker is played as follows: the players start with their service games; one player serves for one point from the deuce court, after which the server moves to the ad court for the next point; the opponent then serves for two points from the ad court; play then proceeds as normal until one player wins seven points (or six if they are ahead by two or more games). If both players reach six games each, then they move on to another deciding game (or decider), usually played to six games. The first player to win ten games (or eight if they are ahead by two or more games) wins the set.

Tiebreakers can be very exciting because they often come down to a few key points. Players who are trailing in the score may feel like they have to take more risks to try and win these key points. This can lead to some very exciting rallies!

What is a Tennis Tiebreaker?

A tennis tiebreaker is a special game used to determine the winner of a tennis match when the score is tied at 6 games each. The tiebreaker is played to 7 points, with the player who wins the most points winning the match. In order to win the tiebreaker, a player must win by 2 clear points.

The tennis tiebreaker is also sometimes called a “deciding game” or a “super tiebreaker.”

How to Play a Tennis Tiebreaker?

A tiebreaker is a great way to end a close tennis match. It is a sudden death situation where the first player to win two points in a row wins the tiebreaker and the match. Tiebreakers are usually used in professional tennis matches. If you are playing a tennis match with a friend and it is getting close, you can always suggest playing a tiebreaker to see who the better player is. Let’s go over the rules of a tennis tiebreaker so you can be prepared the next time you find yourself in one.

First to 7 Points

In tennis, a tiebreaker (sometimes called a breaker[1]) is a scoring system that is used in place of the standard scoring system when the score reaches 6–6 in games. The tiebreaker allows one player to reach 7 points while their opponent remains on 6 (or vice versa). Since it can only be played when the score reaches 6–6, a tiebreaker game must always be won by two clear points.

The most common form of tiebreaker is the first to 7 points tiebreaker. In this form, play continues until one player has won 7 consecutive points, provided her/his opponent scores at least 4 points during those same 7 points. If both players have not yet won 4 points when one player has reached 7 consecutive points, then the score reverts to 6–6 and play resumes under the standard scoring system.

To start the first to 7 points tiebreaker, the server chooses which end of the court she or he wishes to serve from. The server then serves one point from that end, and play proceeds as normal until one player or team has won 7 consecutive points and is declared the winner of the tiebreaker (and thus also wins the set).

First to 10 Points

In a tennis tiebreaker, the first player to win 10 points wins the set. If both players are tied at 9, they play until one player leads by 2. For example, if the score is 10-9, they play until one player leads by 11-9 or 12-10. The winner of the set is the first player to win a total of seven sets. In other words, if you win the first set in a tennis match, you only have to win six more sets to win the match.

Conclusion

To win a tennis tiebreaker, you must score 7 points while leading your opponent by 2 or more points. The first player to reach 7 points wins the tiebreaker. If the score reaches 6-6, the tiebreaker is played to 7 points. If the score reaches 7-7, the tiebreaker is played to 9 points.