FAQ About Tennis

The scoring system in tennis is unique and uses a combination of points, games, and sets to determine the winner of a match. Here's how the scoring system works:

Points: The basic unit of scoring in tennis is the point. Points are awarded in the following sequence:

• No points: Love (0 points)
• 1 point: 15
• 2 points: 30
• 3 points: 40

Game: To win a game, a player must win at least four points and have a margin of at least two points over their opponent. For example, if a player's score is 40 and they win the next point, they win the game. However, if the score is 40-40 (deuce), the player must win two consecutive points to secure the game. The first point won after deuce is called "Advantage" for the player who won it. If the same player wins the next point, they win the game. If they lose the next point, the score returns to deuce.

Set: A set is a collection of games. To win a set, a player must win at least six games with a margin of at least two games. If the score is 6-6 at the end of a set, a tiebreaker is usually played to determine the set winner. In some tournaments, like Grand Slam events, a deciding set may not have a tiebreaker, and players must win by two games until a player wins by a margin of two games.

Match: A tennis match is typically played as the best of three sets (first player to win two sets) or the best of five sets in Grand Slam tournaments.