How to Score the Game of Tennis
Often tennis professionals are asked how to keep score inthe game of tennis. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. The explanationprovided below may prove useful.
In the game of tennis – pointsmake up a game, games make up a set, and sets make up a match.
A point is scored when someonemakes an error, hits past the opponent, or forces the opponent to make theerror. The points are scored in this manner:
0 = Love
1st point = 15
2nd point = 30
3rd point = 40
4th point = Game
In scoring, the server’s pointsare always given first. For example: If the server wins the first point thescore would be 15-Love. If the receiver should win the first point, the scorewould be Love-15.
The most difficult part of scoring in tennis is the game.Points make up a game. The first person to win 4 points (by a margin of two ormore) is the winner of the game. The unusual thing about the game is whathappens if the score becomes 3 points all (tied at 40-40). At that time thescore would be “deuce”. The next point won after deuce would be one of theplayers “advantage” or “add”. It might be stated “your add”, or more formallystated “advantage, Mr. Smith”. Some players might say “add-in” if it is theserver’s advantage, or “add-out” if it is the receiver’s advantage. All ofthese methods are acceptable means of calling the score in an advantagesituation.
The next point won aftersomeone’s “add” would either be “game” or “deuce” again. Deuce, add-in, deuce,add-out can go on indefinitely until someone wins by a margin of two or morepoints.
Let’s run through a hypotheticalgame:
Smith – server; Ryan – Receiving
Ryan wins the first point: love –15
Smith wins the second point: 15 –all
Smith wins the third point: 30 –15
Smith wins the forth point: 40 –15
*Ryan wins the fifth point: 40 –30
Ryan wins the sixth point: deuce
Ryan wins the seventh point:Ryan’s add, or add-out, or advantage Ryan
Smith wins the eight point: deuce
Smith wins the ninth point:Smith’s add, or add-in
Smith wins tenth point: Smithwins the game (finally!)
*Had Smith won either this pointor the next one, he would have won the game.
A set is completed when one ofthe players wins six games by a margin of two or more games. Therefore, thescore could be 6 – 2, or 6 – 3, or 6 – 4, but not 6 – 5, It could be 7 – 5(because a player won by a margin of two games). Should the score go to 6 games– all, a tiebreaker would be played to determine the winner of the set.
A match can consist of:
- The best 2 out of 3 sets (the most common).
- The best 3 out of 5 sets (same is used in major tournaments such as U.S. Open and Wimbledon).
- The first to win 10 games (a pro set).
The tiebreaker is played if theplayers reach 6 games – all. The next player to serve (player A) will serve thefirst point from the right hand (forehand) court. The next two points will beserved by player B beginning from the left hand (backhand) court, then theright (forehand) court. The forth and fifth points will be served by player A,beginning with the left court, then the right court. The sixth and seventhpoints will be served by player B, beginning with the left (backhand) court,again. This goes on indefinitely until either player wins 7 points, by a marginof 2 or more. It is possible for the score to be as high as 21-19, because aplayer must win by two points or more to win the tiebreaker! One final note:After each six points of the tiebreaker, the players should switch ends of thecourt.
The best way to learn the way toscore a match is to sit down in front of the television while a majortournament is on. Try to give the score along with the announcers.
Authored by Dean Snyder, USPTA;Farmington Hills, MI
FAQs
In order to win a game, players must with four points. The name of these four points is love (zero), 15, 30, 40, and game. If the game is tied at 40-40 (also known as deuce), the game continues until one player wins by a two-point lead. There are six games in a set and two or three sets in a match.
What is the score pattern in tennis? ›
A set is won by the first side to win six games, with a margin of at least two games over the other side (e.g. 6–4 or 7–5). If the set is tied at six games each, a tie-break is usually played to decide the set. A match is won when a player or a doubles team has won the majority of the prescribed number of sets.
Why is tennis scored 15/30/40? ›
Tennis scores were shown in the middle ages on two clock faces which went from 0 to 60. On each score the pointer moved round a quarter from 0 to 15, 30, 45 and a win on 60. Somehow the forty five got truncated to forty when the clock faces dropped out of use.
What is the correct way to keep score in tennis? ›
You are always supposed to say your score, followed by your opponent's score. For example: If you have won two points and your opponent has won one, you would call out “30-15”. If your opponent has won three points and you have won one, you would call out “15-40”.
How many sets does men's tennis play? ›
Throughout the year, both the Men's and Women's tennis tours (The ATP & WTA) play best of three set matches. This means the first to win two sets wins the match and advances on. The sets themselves are a race to win six games (hence why you will see 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 etc on the screen at this year's Wimbledon).
What is tennis pattern? ›
A tennis string pattern refers to the number of strings in a tennis racquet. A string pattern is always in the format of 'Mains x Crosses'.
Why is zero called love in tennis? ›
The origins of 'love' as a score lie in the figure zero's resemblance to an egg. In sport, it's common to refer to a nil or nought score as a duck or goose egg, and the French word for egg is l'oeuf - the pronunciation of which isn't too far removed from the English 'love'.
What does deuce mean in tennis? ›
When scores are level at 40-40 in a game, the score is called "deuce". This term also goes back to a French origin. At that score a player will need to take two more points in a row to win the game.
What is the point after the deuce in tennis? ›
Once at deuce, you will begin to use "Advantage" or "Ad." If the server wins the deuce point, the next point is called "Ad In." If the server wins the Ad point, the game is over, and the server "held" serve. However, if the returner wins the next point, the score goes back to deuce.
What does s and g mean in tennis? ›
Tennis consists of points, games, and sets. A player needs to win four points to win a game, six games to win a set, and two sets to win a match. In order to win a game, players must with four points. The name of these four points is love (zero), 15, 30, 40, and game.
Bye: Automatic advancement of a player to the next round of a tournament without facing an opponent. Byes are often awarded in the first round to the top-seeded players in a tournament. Bunt: To use the power of the opponent's shot and hit it back with a short swing.
What does love mean in tennis? ›
In tennis, love represents a score of zero. This use has existed since the late 1800s, and it's not certain how it came to be. The most likely theory is that those with zero points were still playing for the "love of the game" despite their losing score.
What do tennis players do after a match? ›
The first stop off the court is probably a “warm-down” where players spend ten minutes doing some light cycling on a stationary bike. This type of warm down is better than full rest to recover from muscle soreness. It gets the blood flowing to your sore muscles to deliver oxygen and nutrients needed for repair.
What is the tennis scoring system terminology? ›
The player to win the first point in a game gets 15 points, taking the score to 15-0 (fifteen-love), the second point scored takes them to 30 and the third to 40 points – one point after this will win the player the game. However, when both players have 40 points (40-40), the score is referred to as “deuce”.
What is the tennis score scale? ›
A player must win four points to win the game. Instead of a one-for-one value, though, tennis points are awarded in scores of 15, 30, 40, and 60. The first point is 15, and 60 is the point that decides the game's winner.
What is the grading system in tennis? ›
Many of our junior and adult competitions are graded on a scale of 1-7 to help you work out if the standard is right for you – Grade 7 events usually take place at your local venue, while Grade 1 could see you compete for a national championship.
What is the format for tennis? ›
Tennis matches work in three phases: A game, a set and a match. A game is played until a player scores four points, which a player can earn in several different ways (more on that below). A set is a collection of games, played until a player wins six games (or more).
