How tennis scoring works: points, games, sets and tiebreaks

A tennis match is made of points, games and sets. The player who wins the most sets wins the match.

Points and games

• The first point a player wins in a game is called 15, the second 30 and the third 40. A zero score is called "love".
• The player who first wins four points, and is at least two points ahead, wins the game.
• If both players reach 40-40 the score is "deuce". The player who wins the next point has "advantage", and wins the game by winning the point after that. If they lose it, the score goes back to deuce.

Sets and tiebreaks

• A set is won by the first player to win six games with a lead of at least two games.
• If the games reach 6-6, a tiebreak is usually played. The player who first wins seven points, with a two-point lead, wins the set. Rules for a final-set tiebreak differ between tournaments.

Best of three or five

Most matches are best-of-three sets. Men's matches at the four Grand Slams are best-of-five, so a player must win three sets, while women's Grand Slam matches are best-of-three.

Serving

Players take turns to serve a game. Each server has two attempts at a serve per point, and a second failed serve is a "double fault" that gives the point to the opponent.

Sources: ITF Rules of Tennis.

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