At 40–40, one point doesn’t decide a tennis game. A player must win two points in a row: the first earns advantage, and the next wins the game. If the player with advantage loses the following point, the score returns to deuce.
This system is called advantage scoring. It gives both players a chance to pull ahead after a tie, while requiring a clear two-point finish. Here’s how it works, why tennis uses it, and what changes in formats that skip advantage.
How Advantage Scoring Works
A standard tennis game uses the scores 0, 15, 30, and 40. If both players reach 40, the score is called deuce. From there, a player has to win two points in a row to take the game:
- Win one point from deuce: The player gets advantage.
- Win the next point: The player wins the game.
- Lose the next point: The score goes back to deuce.
For example, if the server wins a point at deuce, the score is “Advantage server.” If the server wins again, the server takes the game. If the receiver wins instead, the score returns to deuce. The same sequence can happen several times before someone finishes the game.
When the receiver wins the first point after deuce, the score is “Advantage receiver.” It’s also sometimes called “break point” if the receiver could win the game and break the server’s serve on the next point.
Why Does Tennis Have Advantage Scoring?
It requires a clear winner after a tie
Deuce means the players have won the same number of points in the game. Advantage scoring gives one player a chance to move ahead, but doesn’t let a single point settle the game immediately. The player must back up that point with another win.
That two-point finish is the simplest reason the system works: a player has to earn a lead and hold it. If the lead disappears, the game is tied again.
It rewards handling pressure, not just getting one point
A point at deuce can be huge, but it isn’t the whole game. The player who earns advantage still has to manage the next point with the game on the line. That can mean serving well under pressure, choosing a smart return, or staying calm through a long rally.
Consider a server who hits a strong first serve to reach advantage. The receiver might still make a deep return, force an error, and bring the score back to deuce. Advantage scoring leaves room for that response—and makes the final point matter too.
It can make important moments more tactical
At deuce, both players know a single point will create a chance to win the game. The server may choose a wide serve to open the court, while the receiver might stand farther back to get the ball into play. At advantage, each player has to decide whether to play aggressively or reduce risk.
Those choices can add tension to a close game, especially late in a set. A game can include several trips back to deuce, giving both players repeated chances to take control.
Does Advantage Scoring Come From Tennis History?
Tennis scoring has historical roots in earlier racket games, including jeu de paume, but the exact reasons for every part of today’s scoring system aren’t fully settled. The familiar 15, 30, and 40 sequence is old, and theories about its original meaning vary.
The practical purpose of advantage scoring is easier to explain than its precise origin: it provides a way to finish a tied game by requiring a two-point lead. The system is now part of standard tennis rules, though some competitions use a faster alternative.
What Is No-Ad Scoring?
No-ad scoring removes the advantage step. At 40–40, the next point wins the game. It’s also known as sudden-death or deciding-point scoring.
| Format | What happens at 40–40 | Points needed to win from deuce |
|---|---|---|
| Advantage scoring | One point gives a player advantage; the next can win the game | At least two in a row |
| No-ad scoring | The next point wins the game | One |
No-ad scoring can shorten matches and limit long games. The precise deciding-point procedure depends on the competition. In some formats, for example, the receiving side chooses which side of the court the deciding point is played from.
Not every short format uses no-ad scoring, and rules can differ between leagues, tournaments, and recreational play. Check the event’s rules if you’re unsure which system applies.
Advantage Scoring Is Not the Same as an Advantage Set
These terms sound alike but refer to different parts of the match. Advantage scoring describes how a game is won after deuce. An advantage set describes how a set is won: a player must lead by two games, rather than playing a tiebreak at a set score such as 6–6.
For example, in a set played without a tiebreak, the score could reach 6–6 and continue until one player leads by two games. That’s separate from the advantage points played inside each game.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points do you need to win after deuce?
In standard advantage scoring, you need to win two points in a row. The first gives you advantage, and the second wins the game. If you lose the point after gaining advantage, the score goes back to deuce.
Can a tennis game go back to deuce more than once?
Yes. If the player with advantage loses the next point, it returns to deuce. This can happen repeatedly until one player wins two consecutive points.
Who gets to choose the side for a no-ad deciding point?
That depends on the competition’s rules. Some no-ad formats let the receiving side choose the court side for the deciding point. Check the event rules rather than assuming every format handles it the same way.
Why doesn’t every match use no-ad scoring?
Advantage scoring is the standard format and requires a player to win two points in a row after deuce. No-ad scoring is a quicker alternative used in some competitions to keep matches moving.
Final Thoughts
Tennis uses advantage scoring to settle a tied game with a two-point finish. A point at deuce creates a lead, but the player must win again to claim the game. That rule can produce longer, more tense games—and gives both players a chance to respond before the score is settled.
