Tennis, a sport loved by many, offers a captivating blend of athleticism, strategy, and sportsmanship. While watching a skilled match is indeed a pleasure, understanding the scoring system adds another layer of enjoyment. In this guide, we'll break down the scoring of games, sets, and matches in tennis, making it clear and concise.

Scoring Games, Sets, and Matches

Tennis comprises points, games, and sets, with the ultimate goal being to win a match. To win a game, a player must accumulate four points. These points are known as love (zero), 15, 30, 40, and game. When the game is tied at 40-40, it's called deuce, and play continues until one player secures a two-point lead. A set consists of six games, and a player must win a set by a margin of two games. To clinch a match, they need to win two sets.

Decoding "Love"

In tennis, "love" is not a romantic term but simply a score of zero. Players aim to steer clear of love as much as possible because love signifies a loss. While it's the basis for tennis jokes, on the court, love is far from the answer.

Understanding Deuce and Advantage

When the score is tied at 40-all (deuce), a player must win two points consecutively to secure the game. If the server wins the next point, it's "Advantage In," or add-in. Conversely, if the receiver wins, it's "Advantage Out," or add-out. The game continues until one player wins two consecutive points when the score is deuce.

Scoring Sets and Tiebreakers

If a set reaches a tie at 6-6, a tiebreaker is played. In a tiebreaker, players take turns serving, with the first player serving one point, and then two consecutive points each. To win the tiebreaker, a player needs to have a two-point lead. Players also switch sides after every six points to ensure fairness.

The Advantage Set

In the past, the fifth set in Grand Slam matches didn't use tiebreakers and continued until one player or team had a two-game advantage. To prevent potentially endless sets, new rules were instituted in 2019.

The Tiebreak Set

Tiebreak sets are more time-efficient. When the score is tied at 5-5 in games, players must win the set by a margin of two games. If the score reaches 6-6, a tiebreak game ensues, with the first player to reach seven points by a two-point margin winning.

Final Set Rules

As of 2022, Grand Slam events have implemented a final 10-point tiebreaker for the deciding set instead of an advantage set. In the final set, at 6-6, players engage in a 10-point tiebreaker, with the winner being the first to reach 10 points with a two-point lead. If the score is tied at 9-9, a player must win two more points to clinch the set.

This guide should demystify tennis scoring, making it easier to follow the action on the courts. Stay tuned for more informative content on sports and tennis, brought to you by Wilson.