A tennis game can look nearly finished at 40–30, then suddenly stretch through several more points. The reason is advantage scoring: once the score reaches 40–40, a player must win two points in a row to take the game. Here’s how to follow those score changes—and what they mean when you’re playing or watching.
How a Standard Tennis Game Is Scored
In a standard game, points are called love, 15, 30, and 40. The first player to win four points wins the game, but there is one important condition: they must be at least two points ahead.
That condition matters when both players reach three points each. Instead of calling the score 45–45, tennis calls it deuce, or 40–40. From deuce, a player needs to win two points in a row to finish the game.
| Point won | Score called | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| First point | 15–0 or 0–15 | The point winner leads |
| Second point | 30–0, 15–15, or 0–30 | The score reflects each player’s points |
| Third point | 40–0, 30–15, or 15–30 | The player on 40 may be one point from the game |
| Both players reach three points | Deuce, or 40–40 | A two-point lead is now required |
Scores are usually announced with the server’s score first. So if the server has 30 and the receiver has 15, the call is “30–15.” Once the score is deuce, it is simply called “deuce.”
What “Advantage” Means
The first point won after deuce gives that player the advantage. It does not end the game. It puts the player one point away from winning it.
- If the server wins the point after deuce, the score is often described as advantage server, or informally “ad-in.”
- If the receiver wins it, the score is advantage receiver, or informally “ad-out.”
- If the player with advantage wins the next point, they win the game.
- If the other player wins the next point, the score returns to deuce.
For example, say the score is deuce and the server wins the next rally. The server has advantage. If the server then hits a winning serve, the game is over. But if the receiver wins that rally, the score goes back to deuce—not to a score where the receiver has advantage.
The pattern can repeat as many times as necessary: deuce, advantage, deuce, advantage. There is no fixed limit on the number of points in a standard advantage game. That is why a single game can last much longer than expected.
A Point-by-Point Example
Imagine Maya is serving to Leo. They reach 40–40. Maya wins a long rally, so the score becomes advantage Maya. Leo then returns her next serve deep and wins the point. The score is back to deuce.
On the next point, Leo wins and has the advantage. If he wins the following point, he takes the game—even though Maya was serving. If Maya wins it instead, the score returns to deuce again. Each advantage is a chance to finish, not a guaranteed game point.
This can be confusing because “advantage” sounds like a lasting lead. It is only temporary: the player must win the next point to convert it into the game.
Why Advantage Points Feel So Important
At deuce, both players know that one point can create a game point for the winner. The next rally has extra weight, even though it counts as just one point on the scoreboard. A player with advantage then faces a clear task: close out the game. The opponent knows that winning the rally will erase that advantage.
Serving can help, since a strong first serve may produce a weak return or an unreturned serve. But there is no automatic benefit to the server in the scoring system: the receiver can win the advantage point and can also win the game from advantage. A receiver who gets to deuce has already put pressure on the server, especially if the game is part of a tight set.
Players often make tactical choices based on the situation. A server might choose a safer serve to avoid a double fault, or go for a wide serve to open the court. A receiver might stand farther back to handle pace, or move in to attack a second serve. The right choice depends on the player and the matchup; the scoring rule itself does not require a particular shot or serving tactic.
Advantage Scoring and No-Ad Scoring
Some competitions use no-ad scoring to make games shorter. The score still reaches deuce, but instead of playing advantage and potentially returning to deuce several times, the next point decides the game. The receiving player—or receiving team in doubles—chooses the side from which to receive that deciding point, subject to the competition’s rules.
Under standard advantage scoring, a player must win two consecutive points from deuce. Under no-ad scoring, the player who wins the single deciding point takes the game. The format should be stated in the event rules, so players know what to expect before they start.
Don’t Confuse Advantage in a Game With an Advantage Set
“Advantage” can also appear in discussions of set scoring, but it describes a different thing. Advantage scoring within a game is the deuce-and-advantage system explained above. An advantage set is a set that must be won by two games, sometimes continuing beyond 6–6 rather than ending with a tiebreak at that score.
Most modern events use a tiebreak at a specified set score, though the exact format can vary by tournament and competition. Check the event rules if you need to know how a deciding set is played. The key distinction is simple: advantage within a game is about winning two points in a row from deuce; an advantage set is about building a two-game lead in the set.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points do you need to win from deuce?
Under standard advantage scoring, you need to win two points in a row. The first gives you advantage; the second wins the game. If your opponent wins the point while you have advantage, the score returns to deuce.
Can a tennis game go on forever?
There is no fixed point limit in a standard advantage game, so it can continue through repeated deuces. In practice, one player eventually wins two consecutive points, or the competition may use a different format such as no-ad scoring.
What do “ad-in” and “ad-out” mean?
They are informal terms for the player with advantage. “Ad-in” usually means the server has advantage, while “ad-out” means the receiver has it. Score announcements may instead say “Advantage” followed by the player’s name.
Does advantage scoring mean a player is ahead in the set?
No. Advantage refers to a one-point lead after deuce in an individual game. It does not by itself indicate who is leading the set or match.
Final Thoughts
Advantage scoring is straightforward once you remember the two-point rule. At 40–40, the first point creates advantage; the next point either wins the game or sends the score back to deuce. Watch for that sequence, and even a drawn-out game becomes much easier to follow.
