Tennis scoring explained

Tennis points go love, 15, 30, 40, game. At 40 all it is deuce, and you need to win two points in a row to take the game. The first to six games, two clear, wins the set, with a tie-break at six games all. Matches are usually best of three sets.

Points in a game

Deuce and advantage

At 40 all it is "deuce". The next point gives "advantage" to whoever wins it. Win the following point and you take the game. Lose it and you are back to deuce.

Sets and the tie-break

• First to six games, with a two-game lead, wins the set (6 4, 7 5).
• At six games all, a tie-break decides the set.
• In a tie-break, points count 0, 1, 2, 3. The first to seven points, two clear, wins the tie-break and the set 7 6.

Shorter formats in club and junior tennis

The ITF rules allow alternative formats, common in social and junior play:

• No-ad scoring. At deuce, one deciding point wins the game.
• Short sets. First to four games wins the set, with a tie-break at four all (or three all if the event says so).
• Match tie-break. At one set all, a tie-break to ten points, two clear, decides the match instead of a third set.