A tennis point is one exchange of play that begins with a serve and ends when one player or team wins. It might last just a couple of seconds—a serve the receiver cannot reach—or stretch into a long rally with several changes of direction.
Points are the building blocks of tennis scoring: points make games, games make sets, and sets make a match. Knowing when a point starts, what makes it end, and how points fit into the score makes it easier to follow a match and play by the rules.
What counts as a tennis point?
A point starts when the server hits a serve from behind the baseline. The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service box, unless the receiver hits it before it bounces. Once the serve is in play, the players continue hitting the ball back and forth until a rule decides the point.
The point ends as soon as the ball is dead—for example, when it bounces twice on one side, goes out, or a player commits a fault that loses the point. In singles, one player wins it. In doubles, one team does.
How do you win a tennis point?
You win a point by making a legal shot that your opponent cannot return, or by waiting for your opponent to make an error. A ball that touches any part of a boundary line is in, so a shot landing on the baseline or sideline is still good.
Common ways to win a point include:
- Your opponent misses the ball. If it bounces twice on their side before they hit it, you win the point.
- Your opponent hits the ball out. The ball must land inside the court lines for the relevant singles or doubles match.
- Your opponent hits the net. If their shot does not cross the net and land in the right court, they lose the point.
- You hit a winner. A winner is a legal shot your opponent cannot touch with their racket.
- Your opponent serves two faults. A fault on the first serve gives the server another try. A fault on the second serve loses the point.
- Your opponent breaks a rule during play. For example, a player loses the point if they touch the net or its supports while the ball is in play.
A player does not have to hit a winner to earn the point. A deep shot that pushes an opponent behind the baseline can set up an easy next shot, while a steady rally may end with the opponent making an unforced error.
How points fit into tennis scoring
Most tennis games use the unusual sequence love, 15, 30, 40, game. “Love” means zero. Each point won moves the score forward, but a player generally needs to win by two points to take the game.
| Points won in the game | Score called |
|---|---|
| Neither player has scored | Love-all |
| One point each | 15-all |
| Server has two; receiver has one | 30-15 |
| Server has three; receiver has one | 40-15 |
| Both players have won at least three points and are tied | Deuce |
At deuce, one player must win two points in a row to take the game. The first point after deuce is called advantage for the player who won it. If that player wins the next point, they win the game. If the opponent wins it, the score returns to deuce.
Some competitions use no-ad scoring instead. At deuce, the next point decides the game, so there is no advantage point. The receiver usually chooses which side to receive from on that deciding point; check the event rules, particularly for doubles, because formats can differ.
What happens on a serve?
Each point begins with a serve. The server gets two attempts to land a serve in the correct service box. If the first serve misses, it is a fault, but the point continues only if the second serve is good. Missing both serves is a double fault, and the receiver wins the point.
If a serve clips the net and lands in the correct service box, it is usually called a let. The serve is replayed and does not count as a fault. Once a legal serve is in play, a ball that hits the net and lands inside the court is still playable; it is not automatically a let during a rally.
The server alternates between the right and left sides of the court during a game. Players take turns serving whole games, while the receiver’s position and the server’s position can affect tactics. A wide serve, for example, can pull the receiver off court and leave space for the next shot.
Examples of points in a match
A quick point
The server hits a strong serve into the service box. The receiver cannot reach it. The server wins the point, often called an ace if the receiver does not touch the ball.
A point decided by patience
Both players return several shots. One player keeps the ball deep and moves the opponent from side to side. When the opponent sends a short ball, the player steps forward and hits a winner. The point still counts as one point, even though the rally was much longer.
A point lost on a double fault
The server’s first serve lands outside the service box. On the second attempt, the serve lands in the net. The receiver wins the point without hitting a return.
Points, games, sets, and matches
A point is the smallest unit of tennis scoring. Win enough points to take a game, enough games to take a set, and enough sets to win the match. The exact number of sets and any final-set tie-break rules depend on the competition.
At a tie-break, points are counted as 1, 2, 3, rather than love, 15, and 30. Players usually need to reach at least seven points and lead by two to win a standard set tie-break, though some formats use a different target. The serving order also changes during a tie-break, so players should follow the event’s rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points are in a tennis game?
There is no fixed number. A player can win a game in four points if the opponent wins none, but a game can continue past deuce until someone leads by two points. A no-ad game is an exception: the deciding point after deuce ends it.
Does a tennis point start with the serve?
Yes. The server starts every point by serving from behind the baseline. If the first serve is a fault, the server gets a second attempt; a double fault gives the point to the receiver.
Is a ball on the line in or out?
It is in. A ball is good if any part of it touches a boundary line for the court being used.
Does a let count as a point?
A service let does not count as a point or a fault. The server replays that serve. A let is different from a fault, which is an unsuccessful serve attempt.
Final Thoughts
A tennis point is one complete exchange, from the serve to the moment the ball is dead. It can end with a clean winner, a missed return, a double fault, or a mistake during a rally. Once you understand how individual points work—and how they build into games, sets, and matches—the score and strategy become much easier to follow.
