A tennis score can sound like a code—love, 15, 30, deuce—but the rules underneath are straightforward. Players take turns serving, send the ball over the net into the court, and try to win enough points, games, and sets to take the match. Here’s how those pieces fit together, including the details that commonly trip up new players.
The aim of the game
In singles, one player competes against another; in doubles, two players team up on each side. The goal is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court so they cannot return it legally. A ball that lands on a boundary line is in.
Once a serve has been put into play, players can hit the ball before it bounces (a volley) or after one bounce. They lose the point if the ball bounces twice on their side, lands outside the court, or fails to cross the net. A player also loses the point if they touch the net while the ball is in play, or if the ball hits their body or clothing instead of their racket.
Understanding tennis scoring
Tennis builds a match from points into games, games into sets, and sets into a match. Within a standard game, the points are called love (zero), 15, 30, and 40. A player must win four points and lead by at least two to take the game.
If both players reach 40, the score is called deuce. The next point gives a player advantage, but they must win one more point to finish the game. If the player with advantage loses the next point, the score returns to deuce. This back-and-forth can continue until someone wins two points in a row.
For example, at 40–30, the player leading needs one more point to win the game. At 40–40, neither player is yet one point from taking it: they first need to earn advantage.
Some recreational leagues and competitions use no-ad scoring to shorten games. At deuce, the next point decides the game, with the receiving side choosing which service court to receive from. Check the event’s rules before play, since this is a format variation, not the standard system.
How sets and matches work
A player usually needs to win six games to take a set, but must also lead by two. A 6–4 set is complete; at 5–5, play continues until someone leads by two or reaches a tiebreak, depending on the event’s format.
In a common tiebreak, players continue until one reaches at least seven points with a two-point lead. If the score reaches 6–6, for instance, play carries on until someone leads by two. Players switch ends after every six points. The first player serves one point; the other serves the next two, and service then alternates in two-point turns.
Matches are often best of three sets: the first player to win two sets wins the match. Some men’s singles matches at major events use best of five, meaning three sets are needed to win. The deciding-set rules can vary by tournament, so the format announced for that event takes precedence.
Serving: the start of every point
The server stands behind the baseline and hits the ball diagonally into the service box opposite them. The server must not step on or over the baseline before making contact; doing so is a foot fault. The ball may be struck after a toss or dropped and hit, and an underhand serve is legal as long as it is hit before bouncing.
The first serve of each game comes from the right-hand side of the server’s court, also called the deuce court. The next comes from the left, or ad court, and the server alternates sides for each point. The receiver may stand anywhere on their side of the net, but must let a valid serve bounce in the correct service box before returning it.
A serve that lands in the wrong service box, goes long or wide, or fails to clear the net is a fault. The server gets a second serve after a first-serve fault. If the second serve is also a fault, it’s a double fault and the receiver wins the point. If a serve clips the net but still lands in the correct box, it’s a let: that serve is replayed and does not count as a fault.
Rallies, lines, and common calls
After a valid serve bounces, the ball is in play until a point ends. A shot that clips the net during a rally is still live if it lands in the opponent’s court; unlike a serve, it is not replayed. Shots landing on the singles sidelines count in for singles, while the wider doubles alleys are also in for doubles.
If a player thinks a ball is out, they should make the call promptly. A ball that touches any part of the line is in, so a close shot that catches the edge cannot be called out. In matches with line judges or electronic line-calling, those systems make the relevant calls under the event’s procedures.
Players must not deliberately distract an opponent during a point. If something outside a player’s control interrupts play, the official may decide whether the point should be replayed; simply missing a shot is not a reason to ask for a let.
Singles and doubles court rules
The court has different width markings for singles and doubles. Singles uses the narrower court between the inner sidelines. Doubles uses the full width, including the alleys. The service boxes are the same in both formats, and serves must land in the diagonal box regardless of how wide the court is.
In doubles, the partners take turns serving in a set, and the receiving team also keeps an agreed order for who receives from each side. That order stays in place for the set. Partners can choose where to stand during a rally, but the ball still has to land within the doubles boundaries.
Quick checklist before you play
- Call the score before each point so both players know where the game stands.
- Serve diagonally, starting from the right, and alternate sides after every point.
- You get two serves; two faults in a row give the point to the receiver.
- A ball touching a line is in, and rally shots that nick the net remain live.
- Win games, then sets, by the margin or tiebreak format required for your match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is zero called “love” in tennis?
Players use “love” to mean zero. Its exact origin is uncertain, but the term is long established in tennis scoring. At the start of a game, for example, the score is love-all.
Does a ball that hits the line count as in?
Yes. If any part of the ball touches a boundary line, the shot is in. This applies to the service-box lines on a serve as well as the court’s sidelines and baselines.
Can a player serve underhand?
Yes. The rules allow an underhand serve, provided the player strikes the ball before it bounces and follows the other serving rules. It is less common than an overhand serve, but it is legal.
What happens if a serve hits the net?
If it touches the net and lands in the correct service box, it is a let and the serve is replayed. If it hits the net and lands outside that box, it is a fault.
Final Thoughts
The key is to follow the match in layers: each point contributes to a game, games build a set, and sets decide the match. Remember the two-serve rule, the diagonal service boxes, and the fact that lines count as in, and most calls will make sense as they happen. Scoring formats can vary, especially in tiebreaks and recreational play, so confirm the event’s rules before the first serve.
