A tennis scoreboard can look strange the first time you see it: 15, 30, 40, then “deuce.” The numbers track points, but a game is not over just because one player reaches 40. Understanding that small unit of scoring makes the rest of a match—sets, break points and the scoreboard—much easier to follow.
What a game means in tennis
A game is a scoring unit within a set. Players or teams compete for points, and the first side to meet the game’s winning conditions takes it. Games are grouped into sets, and sets are grouped into a match.
In a standard game, one player serves every point. The receiver tries to return the serve and win the rally. The server and receiver keep those roles for the whole game; they switch roles when the next game begins. In doubles, the same principle applies, though the serving turn rotates among all four players over the course of the set.
“Game” can also appear in a score call, such as “Game, Williams.” That means the named player has won the game—not the set or the match unless it happens to be the final game needed to win one of those.
How points add up to a game
The traditional point sequence is love (zero), 15, 30, 40, and game. Each point won moves the player’s score forward. The unusual numbers are simply the language tennis uses; they do not mean the player has earned 15 or 30 points in the ordinary numerical sense.
| Points won in the game | Score call |
|---|---|
| 0 | Love |
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 30 |
| 3 | 40 |
| 4 or more | Game, if the player is ahead by two points |
The server’s score is announced first. If the server has won two points and the receiver has won one, the score is 30–15. If the receiver has won two and the server one, it is 15–30.
At 40–30, the player on 40 needs one more point to win the game. That point is called game point. If the player loses it, the score becomes 40–40, or deuce. From deuce, a player must win two consecutive points to take the game: the first creates advantage, and the second wins it. If the player with advantage loses the next point, the score returns to deuce.
A quick scoring example
Suppose the server wins the first three points and leads 40–love. The server needs one more point to win the game. If the receiver wins the next three points, the score reaches 40–40. The receiver then wins a point for advantage, but loses the following point: back to deuce. This can happen several times before either player wins two points in a row.
That is why a game can last much longer than its basic four-point pattern suggests. A tight service game may contain a dozen or more points, while a one-sided game can end quickly.
Deuce, advantage and no-ad scoring
In most traditional scoring, deuce does not end the game. The players continue until one wins a point at advantage and then wins the next point. A player can also return from disadvantage by winning a point and bringing the score back to deuce.
Some competitions use no-ad scoring to shorten games. At 40–40, the next point decides the game. The receiver may choose which side of the court to receive from, subject to the event’s rules. There is no advantage point and no return to deuce after that deciding point.
Always check the format of a particular event before assuming which rule applies. Standard scoring is common in professional singles, while no-ad scoring appears in some recreational, league and doubles formats.
How a game fits into a set
Winning a game adds one game to a player’s or team’s set score. A typical set goes to the first side to win six games with a lead of at least two—for example, 6–4. If the score reaches 5–5, a player generally needs to win two games in a row to take the set, making 7–5 a possible finish.
At 6–6, many formats use a tiebreak to decide the set. A tiebreak has its own point scoring—usually numbered 0, 1, 2, 3 and so on—rather than love, 15, 30 and 40. The exact tiebreak format can vary by event. Some deciding sets use a longer tiebreak, and competition rules determine when it is played.
For example, a set score of 6–3 means the winner took six games and the opponent took three. A match score of 6–3, 4–6, 6–2 shows three sets: the first and third went to one player, and the second to the other.
Why service games matter
Because players take turns serving whole games, a player’s service game is a chance to protect their serve, while the return game is a chance to break the opponent’s serve. Winning a game when receiving is called a break. A point on which the receiver could win the game is a break point.
Serve is a major advantage, but not a guarantee. A strong first serve can produce a short point or an unreturned serve; a well-placed return can put the server under pressure immediately. Players often adjust their tactics within a game, too. At 40–love, a server may take a little more risk. At 30–40, the server knows one lost point means losing the game and may choose a safer target or a dependable second serve.
The pressure can build even when the score has not changed much. At deuce, each point is especially important because the next one creates advantage for one side. Players still need to focus on the serve or return in front of them rather than treating the whole game as a single moment.
Common questions about tennis games
How many points does it take to win a game?
At least four points, provided the winner is ahead by two. A player who wins the first four points takes the game; if the score reaches 40–40, more points are required. In no-ad scoring, the point after deuce decides the game.
What does “love” mean?
Love means zero points in the current game. For example, 30–love means the server has won two points and the receiver has won none. It does not mean the player has won zero games in the set.
What is the difference between a game and a set?
A game is made up of points. A set is made up of games and is usually won by the first player or team to reach six games with a two-game lead, or by winning the applicable tiebreak.
Does the same player serve every game?
No. Players alternate serving games in singles. In doubles, each player takes a turn serving in the rotation. Once a player starts a service game, they serve throughout that game.
Final Thoughts
A tennis game is a short contest within a set: points build through love, 15, 30 and 40, and a player usually needs to win by two. Deuce can extend the contest, while no-ad rules make the point after deuce decisive. Keep the distinction between points, games and sets in mind, and even a complicated-looking scoreboard becomes much easier to read.
