A tennis scoreboard can look odd at first: love, 15, 30, 40, deuce. But the system is easier to follow once you see how points build into games, games build into sets, and sets decide the match.
This guide explains standard tennis scoring step by step, including tiebreaks, match formats, and common score calls. A few examples will help you read the scoreboard and understand what a player needs to win.
The Basic Structure: Points, Games, Sets, and Matches
Tennis scoring has four layers. A player or team wins points to win a game; wins games to win a set; and wins enough sets to win the match.
| Level | What it takes to win |
|---|---|
| Point | Win a rally, or make the opponent commit a fault. |
| Game | Usually win at least four points, with a two-point lead. |
| Set | Usually win at least six games, with a two-game lead, or win a tiebreak at 6–6. |
| Match | Win the required number of sets, often two out of three. |
How Tennis Points Are Scored
Within a standard game, points are called love, 15, 30, 40, and game. “Love” means zero. The unusual numbers are simply the traditional calls—not a score players need to calculate as regular fractions.
- Love: 0 points
- 15: 1 point
- 30: 2 points
- 40: 3 points
- Game: the player has won the game, if they have the required lead
If the server wins the first two rallies, the score is 30–love. If the receiver wins the next point, it becomes 30–15. The server’s score is announced first, so 30–15 means the server has two points and the receiver has one. In doubles, the same point system applies to each team.
What are deuce and advantage?
At 40–40, the score is called deuce. A player must win two points in a row from deuce to take the game. The first point gives that player advantage; winning the next point wins the game. Losing it returns the score to deuce.
For example, if the server wins the first point at deuce, the call is “advantage server.” If the receiver wins the next rally, it goes back to deuce. This can repeat several times before either player wins both points in succession.
Some leagues and recreational events use no-ad scoring to keep matches shorter. At 40–40, the next point decides the game. The receiving player or team usually chooses which side the serve comes to. Check the event rules, because this format is not used in every match.
How Games Add Up to a Set
Players alternate serving games. A set is usually won by the first player or team to reach six games while leading by at least two. So 6–4 ends a set, but 6–5 does not: another game must be played. If the score reaches 6–6, a tiebreak is commonly used.
For instance, a player who wins six games while their opponent wins four takes the set 6–4. If they reach 6–6, the set score is tied and the tiebreak determines who gets the seventh game and wins the set 7–6.
How a Tennis Tiebreak Works
In a standard tiebreak, points are counted as 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on—not love, 15, 30, and 40. The first player to reach seven points wins, but they must be ahead by two. If the score is 6–6, play continues until one player leads by two, such as 8–6 or 10–8.
The player due to serve starts with one serve from the deuce side. The opponent then serves two points, starting from the ad side, and players continue in two-point turns. Players change ends after every six points. A tiebreak score of 7–5, for example, gives the winner the set 7–6.
At many major events, a deciding set that reaches 6–6 is settled by a 10-point tiebreak. The first player to reach 10 points with a two-point lead wins the match. Rules can differ by competition and match format, so check the event’s regulations if the deciding-set procedure matters.
How Many Sets Win a Tennis Match?
Most professional matches and many club matches are best of three sets. The first player or team to win two sets takes the match. Some men’s singles matches at major tournaments use best of five sets, where a player needs three sets to win. Doubles, junior, and recreational events may use shortened formats, including a match tiebreak instead of a full deciding set.
Match scores show the games in each set, in order. A result of 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 means the winner lost the second set but won the first and third. The player who wins the most sets—not necessarily the most total games—wins the match.
Reading Tennis Scores and Calls
During a game, the chair umpire or players call the server’s score first. A call of “15–30” means the server has one point and the receiver has two. At the start of a game, “love-all” means neither player has scored.
A final set score of 7–6(5) usually means the set ended in a tiebreak and the winner took that tiebreak 7–5. The number in parentheses is commonly used to show the tiebreak score of the player who lost the set. Scoreboard conventions can vary slightly, but the main set result remains 7–6.
There is a tactical reason players care about each point’s place in the game. At 40–love, the leader has three chances to close out the game. At deuce, one mistake does not end it, but a strong return or a well-placed serve can create advantage. Tiebreak points can feel especially important because each one moves the score toward the finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is zero called love in tennis?
The exact origin is uncertain. “Love” has long been used in tennis to mean zero, and it is simply the traditional score call.
Why does tennis use 15, 30, and 40?
They are traditional point calls that distinguish the stages of a game. Players do not need to add them as normal numbers; after 40, the score becomes game unless play goes to deuce.
Does a player have to win by two?
Usually, yes. A game must be won by two points after deuce, and a standard tiebreak must be won by two points. A set normally requires a two-game lead unless a tiebreak decides it.
What does 6–6 mean?
It means both players or teams have won six games in the set. In most formats, they then play a tiebreak to decide the set, though event rules determine the exact procedure.
Final Thoughts
The easiest way to follow tennis scoring is to keep the order in mind: points make games, games make sets, and sets make the match. Remember the point calls, watch for deuce at 40–40, and expect a tiebreak in many sets tied at 6–6. Once those pieces click, even a long match score becomes much easier to read.
