Tennis scoring can be odd if you are new to the game. But it’s not all that complicated once you learn how it works.

Let’s take a look at the scoring system in tennis – the points system in tennis, how many games you need to win a set, and how tiebreak works.

How To Keep Score In Tennis

Game in soccer, baseball, and basketball Vs Match in tennis

When England plays France in soccer, it is called a game. Game is also used commonly in other sports such as baseball and basketball.

But tennis is different. When Roger Federer plays Rafael Nadal, in tennis, it is called a match.

Tennis matches are typically best of three sets.  Grand Slam matches are best of five sets

Typically, tennis played as best of three sets – the first player to win two sets wins the match.

Grand slam tournaments such as the Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open, and the US Open are best of five sets – the first player to win three sets wins the match.

A player who first reaches six games (or seven games, if needed), with a difference of two games, wins the set. If players end up at 6-6, a tiebreak is played.

Points scoring in tennis

0 points = Love
0 points to each player – Love all
1 point =15
2 points = 30
3 points = 40
1 point to each player = 15-all
2 points to each player = 30-all
3 points to each player = deuce (sometimes shown as 40-40 on TV)

Points After Deuce

If both players reach 40, the point is known as deuce (not 40-all). A player has to score two consecutive points to win the game following deuce. The first point won after deuce is called “advantage.” Once a player scores advantage, and wins the next point, he or she wins the game. If that player loses the point, then the score goes back to deuce.

“Advantage in” is advantage to the server, while “advantage out” is advantage to the receiver.

Tiebreak

If you are playing a set, the first player to reach six games (or seven games, if needed) with a difference of two wins the set. At 6-all, you play a tie break to decide who wins the set.

Instead of using the points system we discussed above for regular games, tiebreak uses simple numerical point values (0,1,2,3, etc). The first player to reach seven points with a difference of two wins the set.

For example, if a player wins a set in a tiebreak and the opponent wins only two points in the tiebreak, the score is represented as 7-6(2).