Tennis Scoring Explained: Points, Games, Sets and Tiebreaks

Tennis scoring explained in one line: players win points to win games, games to win sets, and sets to win the match. The numbers along the way, from love and 15 to deuce and tiebreaks, are what confuse new fans. This guide walks through each level with examples, so you can follow any match on TV or a live scoreboard. For results, rankings, and match news, follow our tennis news and live results.

How does tennis scoring work?

A tennis match is built in three layers. Players win points to take a game, win games to take a set, and win sets to take the match. Most matches are best of three sets, so the first player to win two sets wins, while men’s singles at the Grand Slams are best of five.

One rule appears at every level: you have to win by two. A game needs a two-point lead, a set needs a two-game lead, and a tiebreak needs a two-point lead. That rule is why tennis has no time limit and why some matches run for hours.

How are points scored in a game?

Points in a game don’t count 1, 2, 3. Instead, tennis uses its own sequence: zero is called “love,” then 15, 30, and 40. The next point after 40 wins the game, as long as the player leads by two points.

The umpire always calls the server’s score first. “30-15” means the server leads, and “15-30” means the server trails. When both players have the same score, it’s called “all,” as in “15-all” or “30-all.”

What is deuce in tennis?

Deuce is the score when both players reach 40, or 40-40. From deuce, a player must win two points in a row to win the game. The player who wins the next point has “advantage,” and if they win the following point too, they win the game.

If the player with advantage loses the next point, the score goes back to deuce. A single game can return to deuce many times, which is why some games last much longer than others.

No-ad scoring

Some formats skip advantage altogether. Under no-ad scoring, the point at deuce decides the game outright. It’s used in doubles on the ATP and WTA tours to keep matches shorter.

How many games are in a set?

A set goes to the first player to win six games with at least a two-game lead. A set can end 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, or 6-4. At 6-5, the leader needs one more game to win 7-5, or the trailing player can level it at 6-6.

At 6-6, most sets are decided by a tiebreak. The set is then recorded as 7-6, whatever the tiebreak score, which is why you’ll often see results such as 7-6 on a scoreboard.

How does a tiebreak work in tennis?

A standard tiebreak goes to the first player to win seven points with a two-point lead. Points are counted normally, 1, 2, 3, instead of 15, 30, 40. If the tiebreak reaches 6-6, play continues until one player is two points ahead, so a tiebreak can finish 7-5, 8-6, or even 12-10.

1. The player due to serve next serves the first point of the tiebreak.
2. After that, the serve switches every two points.
3. Players change ends after every six points.
4. The winner takes the set 7-6.

Scoreboards often show the loser’s tiebreak points in brackets. A set listed as 7-6(5) means the winner took the tiebreak 7-5.

The 10-point tiebreak

A longer version, the 10-point tiebreak, goes to the first player to reach 10 points with a two-point lead. Since 2022, all four Grand Slams have used it when the final set reaches 6-6. Before that, each major had its own rule, and Wimbledon’s old format allowed the 2010 match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut to finish 70-68 in the fifth set.

Tour-level doubles often uses a 10-point match tiebreak in place of a full third set. It works the same way, but it decides the whole match instead of one set.

How many sets are in a tennis match?

Most professional matches are best of three sets, meaning a player needs two sets to win. The main exception is men’s singles at the four Grand Slams, which are best of five, so the winner needs three sets.

Serving and changing ends

Players take turns serving, switching after every game. The server gets two attempts to land each serve in the correct box, and a miss on both is a double fault, which gives the point to the receiver. Winning a game on your own serve is called a hold, and winning a game on your opponent’s serve is a break.

Players change ends of the court after the first game and then after every two games, so the switch happens on odd-numbered games such as the third, fifth, and seventh. This keeps conditions like sun and wind fair for both players.

If a serve clips the net and still lands in the correct box, it’s called a let, and the serve is replayed without penalty. Stepping on or over the baseline before hitting the ball is a foot fault, which counts the same as a missed serve.

How to read a tennis scoreboard

A final score lists each set from the winner’s point of view. Take a result of 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4): the winner took the first set 6-4, lost the second 3-6, and won the third in a tiebreak, with the opponent winning 4 tiebreak points.

Live scoreboards add the current game score, usually shown as 15, 30, 40, or AD, next to the games in the set that’s being played. A dot or arrow beside a name usually marks the player who is serving.

Tennis scoring terms to know

These terms come up often in commentary and match reports, beyond the scoring explained above:

Why tennis scoring matters for bettors

Tennis betting markets are built on this scoring system. Set betting depends on whether a match finishes in straight sets, and total games bets depend on how many games each set produces, with a tiebreak set counting as 13 games. Our tennis betting guide explains these markets with peso payout examples.

For guides to other sports and markets, visit our sports betting section. Betting is for adults aged 21 and over.