When a tennis game reaches deuce, neither player has won it yet. The next point gives one player an advantage, but they must win another point in a row to take the game. If they lose that advantage point, the score goes back to deuce.
This back-and-forth can happen once or many times. Knowing what comes after deuce makes the score easier to follow—and helps explain why players often change their tactics when a game is on the line.
What does deuce mean in tennis?
Deuce is the score at 40–40, after both players have won at least three points in a game. Since a player must win by two points, reaching 40 does not finish the game if the opponent has also reached 40.
The score is called “deuce,” rather than “40-all,” once it reaches this point. From deuce, one player needs to win two points in a row to claim the game: first to gain an advantage, then to win the game point.
What happens after deuce?
In standard advantage scoring, the next point decides who has the advantage:
- If the server wins it, the score is advantage server, often called “ad-in.”
- If the receiver wins it, the score is advantage receiver, often called “ad-out.”
The player with the advantage wins the game by taking the next point. If they lose it, the score returns to deuce. The players then repeat the process until one of them wins two consecutive points.
A simple deuce example
Suppose the score is deuce and the server wins the next rally. The score moves to advantage server. If the server wins the following point, the server takes the game. But if the receiver wins that point, the score goes back to deuce.
Now imagine the receiver wins the first point after deuce. The score becomes advantage receiver. The receiver needs one more point to win the game; if the server takes it instead, the score returns to deuce. A single lost point does not erase the game, but it does erase the advantage.
What do “ad-in” and “ad-out” mean?
“Ad” is short for advantage. Ad-in means the server has the advantage, while ad-out means the receiver has it. These terms describe who is one point away from winning the game, not who is leading the whole match.
For example, if the score is 5–5 in games and the receiver reaches ad-out, the receiver is one point from winning that game and moving ahead 6–5. The server can still save the game by winning the next point, which would bring the score back to deuce.
Which side does the server use after deuce?
Players serve from alternating sides of the court. At deuce, the serve comes from the deuce court, the server’s right-hand side. If the point gives a player the advantage, the next serve comes from the ad court, the server’s left-hand side.
If that advantage point is lost and the score returns to deuce, the next serve comes from the deuce court again. This pattern continues if the game reaches deuce several times.
How no-ad scoring changes the rule
Some matches use no-ad scoring, also called deciding-point scoring. In this format, a game still reaches deuce at 40–40, but there is no advantage point followed by another chance. The next point wins the game.
In many no-ad rules, the receiver chooses which side to receive the deciding point from. Doubles procedures can vary by competition, so players should check the event rules. No-ad scoring makes a long game shorter, but it also makes that one point especially important.
Why deuce points matter tactically
A point at deuce carries more pressure than an ordinary point because the winner gets a chance to finish the game. Still, the best response is usually to stick with a clear plan rather than attempt a risky winner too early.
- Servers may use a reliable first-serve placement to set up their next shot. A wide serve can pull the receiver off court, while a serve into the body can limit the receiver’s swing.
- Receivers often focus on getting the return deep and making the server play another shot. Putting a return in play can be more useful than going for a low-percentage winner.
- Both players can target a weaker side or use a pattern they trust. Under pressure, familiar choices are often easier to execute.
Deuce can also test a player’s patience. A long game may include several advantage points, but each one is a fresh point: the previous rally does not change the score or give either player a lasting edge.
Deuce in a game is not the same as a tiebreak
Deuce is part of a regular game. A tiebreak is a separate scoring format, usually played when a set reaches a particular game score, such as 6–6 under the event’s rules. Tiebreak points are counted as 1, 2, 3 and so on—not 15, 30, 40 and deuce.
Set rules can differ between tournaments, including whether a deciding set uses a tiebreak. But when a regular game reaches 40–40, the key question is whether the match uses standard advantage scoring or no-ad scoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the next point after deuce win the game?
Not in standard advantage scoring. The next point gives the winner an advantage. They must win the point after that to take the game. In no-ad scoring, the next point does win the game.
Can a tennis game go back to deuce more than once?
Yes. If the player with advantage loses the next point, the score returns to deuce. This can happen repeatedly until someone wins two points in a row.
What does advantage server mean?
It means the server won the point played at deuce and is now one point away from winning the game. If the server loses the next point, the score goes back to deuce.
Who serves first after deuce?
The player who is serving the game continues to serve. At deuce, the serve comes from the deuce court; at an advantage score, it comes from the ad court.
Final Thoughts
After deuce, the point winner gets an advantage—not an automatic game win—when standard scoring is used. Win the next point as well, and the game is over; lose it, and the score returns to deuce. If you are watching a match, that two-point sequence is the simplest way to keep track of what happens next.
