If the common man was to use a three-point tennis idiom, it would undoubtedly be “game, set, match” in most cases. Scoring, however, is based on points, games and sets. The scoring system is largely the same for men and women, and for all tournaments as far as points and sets are concerned. What can change is that men may play best of 3 or 5 sets depending on the tournament or event, while women will always play best of 3.
Scoring in tennis always consists of a number of games – winning six is the minimum, doing so by scoring the requisite number of points. Sets are won by a margin of two games unless going to a tie-break.
Game Scoring
A sequence of points are played for and won by players during a game. The first player to get to four points, as long as they are clear by two, wins the game. The server’s score is called first by the umpire, followed by the receiver. If a player isn’t two clear at four points, the game continues. The scoring is ‘normal’ in tie-breaks, 3-1, 3-2, 5-3 etc, but is called unusually in regular games.
These are how the points break down in a game and what they are called:
- 0 = “love”
- 1 = “15”
- 2 = “30”
- 3 = “40”
- 4 = “game”
This would work out if a player, just for example, won in a sequence, such as this:
- 15-0 (“fifteen-love”)
- 30-0 (“thirty-love”)
- 30-15 (“thirty-fifteen”)
- 40-15 (“forty-fifteen”)
- Game
When 40-40 is achieved, this is called “deuce”. Play continues and when one player scores to go a point ahead, they have “advantage”. If they score the next point, they win. If they opponent scores, we’re back to deuce. This continues until a player wins by two points and then the game is theirs.
A player usually has a form of advantage when serving first, especially in the men’s game. That’s because with a quick enough service, points can be won immediately, and a player can always be ahead. Winning a game while receiving is called ‘breaking serve’.
Set Scoring
So, the game is won, but we’re a long way from winning a set. A set is made up of a sequence of games using alternative service and returns. Player A serves first, then player B and so on. To win a set, a player needs to reach six games, winning by two, i.e., 6-4. If a set reaches 5-5 and then 6-5, it can be won at 7-5. If the set reaches 6-6 however, a tie-break is needed.
Tie-Breaks
Tiebreakers involved the players playing another game, but not under the same scoring system as above. This time, a player will service the first point only, then after that they alternative and serve two times each. The scoring in this case involves normal numbering, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1 etc, until a player reaches 7 and is clear by 2. Then they win the game and the set. If the score is not decided at 7 by 2 clear points, they keep going.
Match Scoring
Points mean winning games, then enough games mean winning the set. Basically, the ultimate winner is the player who wins more than half of the available sets and does so as soon as that is achieved. This is otherwise known as “best of” much like in snooker, darts and other sports. So, if players are playing a ‘best of 3’ match, it can be won 2-0, 2-1, 1-2 or 0-2. In a best of 5 scenario the score can be 3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 1-3 or 0-3.
Women’s professional matches are played over a maximum of 3 sets, as are mixed doubles. Men’s singles and doubles can be the same in smaller tournaments but are best of 5 in major tournaments such as the Grand Slams at Wimbledon, the US Open, French Open and Australian Open.