How to Score Points in Tennis: Rules & Scoring System Explained

Tennis is one of the most popular individual sports in India, with stars like Sania Mirza, Leander Paes, and Rohan Bopanna making the nation proud. However, for a beginner, tennis scores can be a bit confusing. Why do they count “15, 30, 40” instead of “1, 2, 3”? And what on earth does “Love” mean?

In this guide, we break down the complex tennis scoring system into simple steps so you can follow the next Grand Slam or local tournament with ease.

The Three Tiers of Tennis Scoring

To understand a tennis match, you need to look at it in three stages: Points make up Games, Games make up Sets, and Sets make up the Match.

1. Scoring a Game: 15, 30, 40, and Deuce

In tennis, the points climb in a unique sequence. Both players start at zero, referred to as “Love.” From there, the progression is as follows:

• No points: Love
• 1st point: 15
• 2nd point: 30
• 3rd point: 40
• 4th point: Game (the player wins the game)

What is Deuce? If both players reach 40-40, it is called a “Deuce.” To win the game from Deuce, a player must win two consecutive points. The first point won is called Advantage. If that player wins the next point, they win the game. If they lose it, the score goes back to Deuce.

2. Winning a Set

To win a set, a player must be the first to win 6 games. However, there is a catch: you must win by a margin of at least two games (e.g., 6-4). If the score reaches 5-5, players continue until 7-5. If the score reaches 6-6, a Tie-break is played to determine the winner of the set (usually the first to reach 7 points wins the tie-break).

3. Winning the Match

In most professional tournaments (ATP/WTA), matches are “Best of Three.” This means the first person to win 2 sets wins the match. In Men’s Grand Slams (like Wimbledon or the Australian Open), matches are “Best of Five,” requiring a player to win 3 sets.

Common Tennis Scoring Terms

• Love: Derived from the French word “l’oeuf” (meaning egg, which looks like a zero).
• All: Used when the score is tied (e.g., 15-all or 30-all).
• Break Point: When the player who is not serving is one point away from winning the game.
• Double Fault: When the server fails both serve attempts, giving a point to the opponent.

Conclusion

While the tennis scoring system may seem intimidating at first, it becomes second nature once you start playing or watching. Whether you are hitting the courts at your local club in Mumbai or Delhi, or cheering for India’s doubles teams, knowing how tennis scores work enhances the excitement of the game. Now that you know the rules, grab a racket and start your journey towards your first “Game, Set, Match!”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is zero called “Love” in tennis?

The most widely accepted theory is that it comes from the French word for egg, “l’oeuf,” because an egg resembles the number zero. Another theory is that it represents “playing for the love of the game,” even when scoring nothing.

2. How long does a typical tennis match last?

A best-of-three set match usually lasts between 90 minutes to 2 hours. However, matches can vary greatly; some finish in under an hour, while marathon matches can go over 4 hours.

3. What happens if the score reaches 40-40?

This is called a “Deuce.” A player must then win two points in a row to win the game: the “Advantage” point followed by the winning point.

4. Is the scoring the same for doubles and singles?

Yes, the 15, 30, 40 system remains the same. However, in some professional doubles tournaments, a “Deciding Point” (No-Ad scoring) is used at Deuce to speed up the game.

5. What is a “Golden Set” in tennis?

A Golden Set occurs when a player wins every single point in a set (24 points to 0), without losing a single point to their opponent. This is extremely rare in professional tennis.

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How to Score Points in Tennis Games | Tennis

Taking up tennis? Learn how to score points in tennis games with this online tennis lesson.

Hi, my name is Angelina Zdorovytska. Right now we’re in the beautiful city of Los Angeles in Beverly Hills. I started playing tennis when I was 7 years old. I was ranked number 1 tennis player in the Ukraine. 350 in the world ranking. I run my own business; it’s besttennisever.com. I train very good players. Also, I train beginners, intermediate players. Tennis is my life and my passion. I live for it and now I would like to talk to you about tennis.
I’d like to talk to you about how to score and how to count in tennis when you’re playing a match. For example, when you’re serving, you’re starting the point and if you win the point, you get 15 points. So, you serve, you win the point, it’s 15-love. Next thing, for example, if again you’re serving and you lose the next point, so, you’re losing 15 points and we go to 15-all.

So the points go from the beginning, we have 15-love, 30-love, after 30 we don’t have the 45, we go to 40. So 15-love, 30-love, 40-love. If you’re losing the point, then your opponent, someone you’re playing against, is going to have the 15 points. So for example, you’re serving, you win the point, you’re going to have 15-love. Next one you lose, it’s going to be 15-all. If you win the next one, it’s 30-15.

We have the situation when we get to 40-all, we don’t have the 40-all. We’re using the terminology, we say deuce. Deuce is if I have 40, your opponent is having 40 as well. So you’re going to ask a question, what are you going to do next? We’re using the terminology where we say add in or add out. For example, if I’m serving, and we’re at deuce, if I win the point, it’s going to be add in. If I lose the point, it’s going to be add out. Having the add in for me to win the next point, I’m winning the game, one game. If I’m losing the point, we’re going back to deuce

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Tennis for Beginners: Tennis Scoring Rules Explained (Hinglish Guide)

Tennis points calculation logic shuruat mein thoda confusing lag sakta hai (can seem confusing at first). Unlike cricket or football where points go 1, 2, 3, tennis follows a unique system: 15, 30, 40, and Game. If you are an Indian sports fan looking to understand tennis scores and how a match is won, this guide is for you.

The Basics of Tennis Scoring (The Hierarchy)

Tennis scoring structure teen levels mein divided hoti hai:

• Points: Smallest unit (15, 30, 40).
• Games: Points se milkar Games bante hain.
• Sets: Games se milkar Sets bante hain.
• Match: Sets win karne par Match khatam hota hai.

1. Understanding “Points” within a Game

Ek Game jitne ke liye player ko minimum 4 points score karne hote hain. Lekin unhe numbering ke bajaye special names diye gaye hain:

• 0 Points: Love (Tennis mein zero ko ‘Love’ kehte hain).
• 1st Point: 15
• 2nd Point: 30
• 3rd Point: 40
• 4th Point: Game (Over)

The ‘Deuce’ Rule

Agar dono players 40-40 par tie ho jayein, toh use Deuce kehte hain. Yahan se game jitne ke liye kisi ek player ko consecutive 2 points lene honge:

• Advantage: Deuce ke baad pehla point lene wala player ‘Advantage’ par hota hai.
• Agar wahi player agla point bhi jeet jaye, toh Game over.
• Agar opponent point jeet jaye, toh score wapas Deuce ho jata hai.

2. Winning a Set

Ek ‘Set’ jitne ke liye player ko kam se kam 6 Games jitne hote hain, with a lead of at least 2 games (e.g., 6-4 or 6-0).

Agar score 5-5 ho jaye, toh match 7 games tak jata hai. Agar score 6-6 ho jaye, toh ek Tie-break khela jata hai takki set winner decide ho sake.

3. Winning the Match

International tennis matches do types ke hote hain:

• Best of 3 Sets: Jo player 2 sets pehle jitega, wo winner hai. (Used in Women’s matches and most ATP events).
• Best of 5 Sets: Jo player 3 sets pehle jitega, wo winner hai. (Used in Men’s Grand Slams like Wimbledon or French Open).

General Tennis Terms for Beginners

Match dekhte waqt aap ye terms zaroor sunenge:

• Server: Jo player ball start karta hai.
• Receiver: Jo ball return karta hai.
• Ace: Jab serve itni fast ho ki opponent touch bhi na kar paye.
• Double Fault: Jab server do baar serve miss kar de (Opponent gets a point).

Conclusion

Tennis scoring shuru mein mushkil lagti hai, par practice ke saath easy ho jati hai. Just remember: points lead to games, games lead to sets, and sets lead to a match win. Ab jab aap agli baar Sania Mirza ya Rohan Bopanna ka match dekhenge, toh tennis scores samajhna aapke liye bache ka khel hoga!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Tennis mein zero ko ‘Love’ kyun kehte hain?

It is believed to come from the French word ‘l’oeuf’, which means egg (representing zero shape). English speakers pronounced it as ‘Love’.

2. Tennis match kitne der tak chalta hai?

Iska koi fixed time nahi hota. Best of 3 match 1.5 – 2 ghante chal sakta hai, jabki Grand Slam matches 3 se 5 ghante tak bhi ja sakte hain.

3. What is a ‘Break Point’?

Jab receiver (jo serve nahi kar raha) ko game jitne ke liye sirf ek point chahiye ho, toh use Break Point kehte hain.

4. Is there a difference between Men’s and Women’s scoring?

The point and game system is identical. The only major difference is that Men play ‘Best of 5 sets’ in Grand Slams, while Women play ‘Best of 3’.

Watch this Tennis for dummies explainer video to understand tennis, so next time you watch a match, you will know what the scoring is all about.

Are you curious what does a break point or rules for tie break mean?

In short:

A key aspect is that points are always counted from the point of view of the server in a game. So If you see a tennis ball, yellow circle, or line or arrow near a players name, that means they are serving and the points are from their perspective.

We have points that make up a game. Games making up a set and sets making up a match. For points we have 0 or love as its called, 15, 30, 40. If the server wins the first point, its 15 – 0. If the opponent wins the second, 15 -15. If the opponent wins another, its 15 -30. If player one wins the next, its 30 – 30. If again the next one, its 40 – 30. After 40, if the server wins, they win the game. If there is deuce, 40-40, and the server wins a point, that will make the score A – 40. If the server wins another point, wins the game.

There are 6 games to be won in a set where the winner needs to win by at least 2 games. If there is a tie at 5-5, it means that players need to compete for another 2 games and whoever wins that two game, making the set to be 7-5 wins the set. If both players won 6 games in a set and its 6-6, a tie break is introduced to the set to close it quicker than using the game scoring method. In the tie break, the first player to win 7 points, by two, wins the tie break and that set as a result. If both players have 6 points in the tie break, it continues until someone wins two points consecutively.

When they say a match is played for best of 3 sets, that means that whoever wins 2 sets first, wins the match so there can be a maximum of 3 sets. Grand Slam men’s singles and doubles matches differ in two ways from the rest of the matches in tennis.

One, matches are played for 3 won sets or the best of 5 sets, making it a maximum of 5 sets in a match. And two, for some time, if the score is 6-6 in set number 5, there is no tie break, but a player only wins that set and the match if they win by 2 games. There are various limitations for the 5th set tie break in the Grand Slams.

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