Doubles uses the same basic points and games as singles, but four players share the serving and receiving duties. Once you know whose turn it is to serve—and which team’s score is called first—the score is much easier to follow.
A standard doubles set is usually played to six games, with a tiebreak at 6–6. Some leagues and tournaments use no-ad games or a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a full final set, so check the event format before you play.
The basic points in a doubles game
Points are counted just as they are in singles. The server’s team score is called first, followed by the receiving team’s score. For example, “30–15” means the serving team has won two points and the receiving team has won one.
| Points won in the game | Score called |
|---|---|
| 0 points | Love |
| 1 point | 15 |
| 2 points | 30 |
| 3 points | 40 |
| Both teams reach 40 | Deuce |
At 40–40, called deuce, a team generally needs to win two points in a row. The first point gives it advantage. If that same team wins the next point, it wins the game; if it loses the next point, the score returns to deuce.
Many recreational leagues and some competitions use no-ad scoring. At deuce, the next point decides the game, with no advantage point. In doubles, the receiving team usually chooses which partner will receive that deciding serve. Event rules may specify how that choice works, particularly in mixed doubles.
How games and sets work
Every game starts at love-all, and the first team to win four points by at least two points takes it—unless no-ad scoring applies. Games count up within the set: 1–0, 2–0, 2–1, and so on. The team that wins at least six games by a margin of two usually wins the set.
If the score reaches 6–6, most standard formats use a tiebreak. A typical set tiebreak is played to seven points, but a team must win by two. So 7–5 wins it, while 7–6 does not; play continues until one team leads by two, such as 9–7.
Matches are commonly best of three sets, meaning the first team to win two sets wins the match. Some formats replace a deciding third set with a match tiebreak, usually played to 10 points and won by two. This is common in club play and some tournaments, but it is not universal.
Serving order in doubles
Each of the four players takes a turn serving. At the start of a set, the teams decide which partner will serve first for each team. The serving team changes after every game, and its partners alternate serving when their team’s next service game comes around.
For example, if Team A’s first server is Alex and Team B’s first server is Blair, a possible order is Alex, Blair, Alex’s partner, Blair’s partner, then back to Alex. The order continues through the set. Partners cannot swap their places in that rotation halfway through a set.
The server serves from alternate sides of the court, starting on the deuce (right) side. As in singles, each point begins with a serve into the diagonally opposite service box. During the rally, the doubles alleys are in bounds, making the playing area wider than it is in singles.
Receiving positions and tiebreak service
At the start of a set, each team chooses which partner will receive from the deuce side and which will receive from the ad side. Those receiving positions stay the same for that set. The partners can change them for a new set.
In a tiebreak, service still follows a set order, but it switches more often than in a regular game. The player whose turn it is in the normal rotation serves the first point. Then an opponent serves the next two points, followed by the first server’s partner for two points, and then the fourth player for two. That sequence repeats if needed. Players also change ends after every six points.
Because the service changes quickly in a tiebreak, it helps to keep track of the rotation rather than assume the same player serves an entire game. The server still serves each point from the correct side according to the point score.
A quick doubles scoring example
Suppose Alex and Casey are serving, and Blair and Devon are receiving. Alex serves the first game. If Alex and Casey win the first point, the score is 15–love. If Blair and Devon win the next two, it becomes 15–30. Alex serves again on the next point from the side required by the score.
If the game reaches deuce, the serving team needs two consecutive points under regular scoring. If it is a no-ad match, the next point decides the game, and the receiving team selects which partner takes the return. After the game ends, the other team serves the next game according to the agreed rotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is doubles scoring different from singles scoring?
The point sequence, game scoring, and usual set format are the same. The main differences are that four players share the service rotation, partners choose receiving positions, and the doubles alleys are in play during rallies.
Who serves first in a doubles tiebreak?
The player whose turn comes next in the set’s service rotation serves the first point. The opposing team then serves the next two points, and service continues in pairs of points around the four-player rotation.
Does a doubles tiebreak go to seven or 10?
A set tiebreak is commonly played to seven points, win by two. A match tiebreak used in place of a deciding set is commonly played to 10, also win by two. Check the competition rules, since formats vary.
Can doubles partners switch receiving sides?
They choose who receives from each side at the start of a set and keep those positions for that set. They can choose different receiving positions at the start of the next set.
Final Thoughts
Doubles scoring follows familiar tennis rules: points build into games, games build into sets, and tiebreaks settle many sets tied at 6–6. The extra detail is keeping the four-player serve rotation straight. Before a match, confirm whether it uses advantage or no-ad games and whether a match tiebreak replaces the final set. That quick check prevents most scoring confusion.
