How tennis scoring works: 15, 30, 40, deuce and tiebreaks

Short answer: Points go 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, then game. At 40-40 (deuce) you need two points in a row to win the game. A set goes to 6 games with a two-game lead; at 6-6 you play a tiebreak to 7 points, win by two. Matches are usually best of 3 sets.

Points in a game

The server's score is said first. Win four points to win the game, but you must lead by two. At 40-40 the score is deuce; winning the next point gives you advantage, and winning again wins the game. Losing it goes back to deuce.

Games in a set

The first player or team to win 6 games, two games clear, wins the set: 6-4 is a set, 6-5 is not. At 6-6 most matches play a tiebreak. Some events play the final set out with no tiebreak until someone leads by two games.

The tiebreak

Count normally: 1, 2, 3. First to 7 points with a two-point lead wins the set 7-6. The player due to serve serves the first point, then each side serves two points in turn. Players change ends every 6 points.

The super tiebreak

Many club and doubles matches replace the third set with a super (match) tiebreak: first to 10 points, win by two. It is played like a normal tiebreak.

When do you change ends?

After the first game of each set and then after every two games — that is, whenever the total number of games in the set is odd — and after a set that ends with an odd number of games.

Keeping score without arguing

Deucely does the counting: tap the half of the screen for the side that won the point. It shows deuce, advantage, the tiebreak count, break points and when to change ends, and you can undo a point if you tapped the wrong side.

FAQ

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