Are you starting to play tennis and don’t understand the scores?
Tennis has a unique scoring system that can be confusing at first, but once you understand the basics, it’s easy to follow. Whether you’re just starting or watching a match, knowing how tennis scoring works will help you enjoy the game even more.
Basic Tennis Scoring System
A tennis match is divided into points, games, sets, and matches.
Points: Love, 15, 30, 40, and Game
Unlike most sports, tennis doesn’t count points as 1, 2, 3, etc. Instead, the point system works is:
- 0 points = “Love”
- 1 point = 15
- 2 points = 30
- 3 points = 40
- 4 points = Game (if ahead by 2 points)
For example, if you win the first point, the score is 15-0 (15-Love). If your opponent wins the next, it’s 15-15.
💡 Why “Love” instead of zero? Some say it comes from the French word l’œuf (egg), which resembles a zero.
What Happens at 40-40?
When the score in a match is 40-40, it’s called deuce. In this case, a player must win two consecutive points to win the game:
- Win one point → Advantage (“Ad”)
- Win the next point → Game
- Lose the point → Back to deuce
For example, if you win the first point after deuce, the score is “Advantage In” (Ad-In). If your opponent wins, it’s “Advantage Out” (Ad-Out).
Games and Sets
- A set is made up of games. To win a set, you need to win 6 games with at least a two-game lead (e.g., 6-4 or 7-5).
- If the score reaches 6-6, a tiebreaker is played (except in some tournaments).
If a set reaches 6-6, a tiebreak is played. The first player to reach 7 points (with a 2-point lead) wins the tiebreak and the set.
🎾 Example: If you lead 7-5, you win the set. If it’s 6-6, you keep playing until someone leads by 2 points (e.g., 10-8).
Winning the Match
- Most matches are played in the best of 3 sets (whoever wins 2 sets first).
- In men’s Grand Slam tournaments, it’s best of 5 sets (whoever wins 3 sets first).
Start Playing Tennis with ALE Tennis Academy!
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