If you are interested in learning about the rules of tennis you can read more from here.
15-30, 5-5… This is how it works:
The scoring system of a tennis match consists of three things:
- Points 0,15, 30, 40 ja Ad
- Games 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
- Sets 1,2,3
In a nutshell, the tennis match is won by the first player to win a predetermined number of games. This can be two sets (best of three) or three sets (best of five), depending on the tournament. To win one set, a player must win a certain number of games, which consist of points.
This may sound complicated, but the next section explains the points table in tennis from the beginning.
Points
The scoring of tennis is made up of points. Every point starts with a serve and can end up in four different ways:
- The opponent hits a tennis ball into the net
- The opponent hits a tennis ball over the boundaries of the court
- The tennis ball bounces twice on the opponent’s side so that the first bounce is inside the boundaries
- The opponent commits a double fault on the serve, i.e. fails to hit the opponent’s service box with two consecutive serves according to the rules of the game
If the point ends in one of these ways, the opponent is awarded one point. It is worth remembering that a tennis ball may still hit the net during play, as long as it falls within the boundaries of the court.
Between each point played the direction of the serve is always changed. For example, if a player has won a point by serving from the right side of the court, the next point will be served from the left side of the court.
However, the number of points won in a match is not displayed on the scoreboard in the same way as one might imagine, but the score of a tennis match is displayed as follows:
| Points won | Scoreboard |
|---|---|
| 0 points | 0 |
| First point | 15 |
| Second point | 30 |
| Third point | 40 |
| Fourth point | Game |
| Fourth point in 40-40 deuce situation | Ad |
A player/pair must win four points with a two-point advantage to win one game, but if both players/pairs have won three points then the score is tied at 40-40. In a tie, one of the players/pairs must win two points in a row to win that game.
If a player/pair wins a point in a tie situation (deuce), they receive an advantage shown on the scoreboard, e.g., Ad-40. However, if the side with the advantage loses the next point, they lose the advantage and the game returns to a 40-40 deuce.
It is good to remember that you cannot lose points in a deuce situation. So if a player/pair loses a point in a deuce situation it will not be 30-40 but 40-Ad. The game continues until one of the players/pairs has won two points in a row.
Points in a Nutshell
- When learning how to read the score in tennis, it is good to remember that the score of a match is always presented in such a way that the serving player/pair points are shown first. So if the serving player has won three points and his opponent has won one point, the score is 40-15.
- Players can win a point in four different ways
- The first player to win four points with a two-point advantage wins the game (0→15 → 30 → 40 → game)
- In a tie situation (deuce) if a player/pair wins a point they receive an advantage (ad)
- If the player/team with the advantage loses a point the game goes back to a deuce situation (40 – Ad → 40- 40)
- In a deuce situation, the player/pair must win two points in a row to win the game (40 → Ad → game)
Games
In the previous chapter, we already mentioned how you can win a single point in tennis. In this chapter, we will go into more detail about how you can win a set by winning a certain number of games and what the different exceptions are.
In simple terms, the first player/pair to win 6 games wins one set, for example, 6-1. However, the sets must be won by a two-game margin, for example, 6-4. If the score is 6-5, one more game is needed to win the game to make it 7-5.
It is good to keep in mind that players must change sides after the first, third and, every following odd number game in each set. Players will also change sides after each set unless the total of the games in the set is an even number.
If the total sum of the games is even, players change sides after the first game of the next set.
Tie-Break
If both players/pairs have won 6 games then the score is 6-6. In this situation, the tie-break method is implemented. The tie-break and the set in question are won by the first player/players to win seven points by at least two points advantage. One point is awarded for each point won in a tie-break.
A tie-break starts with one of the players serving once, then both players serve two times in a row until one of the players has scored 7 or more points with a two-point difference.
A tie-break could end, for example, 12-10, after which the player who wins the tie-break also wins that set (7-6). Such a situation is shown on the scoreboard as follows: game wins first and tie-break points second.
In a tie-break, players change ends after every sixth point.
An example of a tie-break:
Games in a Nutshell
- A player/pair must win 6 games by at least a two-game margin to win one round
- In a 6-5 situation, one more standard game is played
- If the score is 6-6 the tie-break will be used to decide the set
- The tie-break is won by the first player/pair to win 7 points by two points advantage
- At the start of the tie-break, one of the players will serve one serve, after which both players will serve twice in a row
Sets
To win a tennis match, the player/pair needs a certain number of set wins. This can be 2 or 3 sets, depending on the tournament. In smaller tournaments, the best of three methods is used, i.e. two sets wins the whole match.
In Grand Slam tournaments, i.e. the major tournaments, the best-of-five method is used. 3 sets are required to win the match. In a tennis match, it is sufficient to win a predetermined number of sets and they do not have to be two set margin.
An example of a scoreboard from a completed match:
Sets in a Nutshell
- The tennis match is won by the player/pair who wins the first 2 or 3 sets (best of 3 or best of 5)
FAQ
During a tennis match, whose score is always mentioned or read first?
— The serving player’s score is always presented and mentioned first
What happens if a player wins the first 2 points of a tennis match and then loses 3rd and 4th points?
— The score of the game is 30-30
Do you lose a point if the racket hits the ball twice during the shot?
– You don’t lose the point if you hit the ball twice with your racket as long as the stroke motion is continuous.