The Basics of Scoring in Tennis: Games, Sets, and Matches

Understanding the scoring system is essential for playing and watching tennis. Tennis uses a unique terminology to track points, games, and sets, ultimately determining the winner of a match.

A single game is won by the first player to score four points, with a specific, non-numerical system:

Key Rules for Points:

• Deuce: If the score reaches 40-40 (three points each), it is called "Deuce."
• Advantage (Ad): After deuce, the next point scored is called "Advantage." If the player with the advantage wins the next point, they win the game. If they lose the next point, the score returns to deuce.
• Winning the Game: A player must win two consecutive points after deuce to win the game.

Games are the building blocks of a set.

• A set is won by the first player to win six games, provided they are leading by at least two games.
• If the game score reaches 5-5, play continues until one player reaches 7 games (e.g., 7-5).

Tiebreak Rule:

If the game score reaches 6-6, a tiebreak game is usually played to determine the winner of the set.

• Tiebreak Scoring: Points are counted numerically (1, 2, 3, etc.).
• Winning the Tiebreak: The first player to score at least seven points with a two-point margin wins the tiebreak, and thus the set (e.g., 7-5, 8-6). The final set of a match often does not use a tiebreak and requires a two-game lead to win (e.g., 8-6, 10-8).

The match is the complete contest, typically played as a best-of-three or best-of-five set format.