How Tennis
Scoring Works
Tennis has one of the most unique scoring systems in all of sports. Here's everything you need to know — from Love to Championship Point.
The Structure
Tennis is built in layers. Points build into games, games build into sets, and sets decide the match.
Match
Win 2 out of 3 sets (or 3 out of 5 at Grand Slams)
Set
Win 6 games with a 2-game lead (or a tiebreak at 6–6)
Game
Win 4 points with a 2-point lead after deuce
Point
The smallest unit — every rally is one point
The Weird Points
Instead of 1, 2, 3, 4 — tennis counts 0, 15, 30, 40. Nobody really knows why.
Love
Zero points. "Love" likely comes from the French word l'œuf (egg), because an egg looks like a zero.
Fifteen
Win your first point in a game. The server's score is always called first — "15-Love" means the server leads.
Thirty
Win your second point. At 30-30, it's anyone's game — two points from winning for both players.
Forty
Win your third point. At 40-Love, you have a game point. But if it's 40-40, that's called Deuce.
Deuce &
Advantage
When both players reach 40, you need to win by 2 clear points. Try it yourself below.
Reading a Scoreboard
Here's what a live tennis score actually looks like — and what every number means.
C. Alcaraz [1] 
N. Djokovic [3]How to Read This
Alcaraz won Set 1 (6-4), lost Set 2 (3-6), and leads 5-4 in Set 3. He's serving (green dot) and leads 40-30 in the current game. The green highlighted column is the active set.
The Tiebreak
When a set reaches 6-6, a special tiebreak game decides it. First to 7 points, win by 2.
00Tiebreak Rules
Points use normal numbering (1, 2, 3...) not 15-30-40. Serve alternates every 2 points. Players switch ends every 6 points. First to 7 wins, but must lead by 2 — so 7-6 is possible only in the set score, not the tiebreak itself.
Match Formats
Not all tennis matches are the same length. Grand Slams are the ultimate test of endurance.
| Tournament | Format | Sets to Win | Final Set Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open | Best of 5 | 3 sets | 10-point tiebreak at 6–6 |
| Masters 1000 Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, etc. | Best of 3 | 2 sets | 7-point tiebreak at 6–6 |
| ATP 500 / 250 Dubai, Rotterdam, Queen's, etc. | Best of 3 | 2 sets | 7-point tiebreak at 6–6 |
| ATP Finals Season-ending championship | Best of 3 | 2 sets | 7-point tiebreak at 6–6 |
Key Terms
The vocabulary you need to follow any tennis match like a pro.
Ace
A serve so good the opponent can't even touch it. An instant point for the server.
Break
Winning a game when your opponent is serving. One of the most important moments in tennis.
Hold
Winning a game when you're serving. The expected outcome — failing to hold is a "break."
Break Point
When the returner is one point away from breaking serve. High-pressure moment for the server.
Double Fault
Missing both serves. The opponent gets a free point. Even the best pros average 2-4 per match.
Match Point
When one player is a single point from winning the entire match. The most exciting moment in tennis.
Love
Zero. "Love-40" means the server hasn't won any points yet. A "love game" means 4-0.
Bagel / Breadstick
Winning a set 6-0 is a "bagel" (looks like a 0). Winning 6-1 is a "breadstick" (looks like a 1).
Ready to Watch Tennis?
Now that you understand the scoring, see who our AI predicts will win.
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