Reading tennis scores is simpler than it seems. To get started, it helps to know the basic structure of a tennis match. There are three main parts to keep track of:
- Points
- Games
- Sets
In a tennis match, the goal is to be the first player to win a set. Depending on the tournament, a match could be played as a best of three sets (the first to win two sets) or a best of five sets (the first to win three sets).
To win a set, a player needs to win a certain number of games. To win a game, a player must win enough points. Here’s how the scoring works in a game:
- The game starts with no points (called love or 0).
- Then, the points are counted as 15, 30, 40, and then the game is won.
- To win the game, you must score four points and be ahead by at least two points.
Here is the breakdown of the points and their corresponding numbers on the scoreboard:
| Points won | Scoreboard |
|---|---|
| 0 points | 0 (called love) |
| First point | 15 |
| Second point | 30 |
| Third point | 40 |
| Fourth point | Game |
| Fourth point in 40-40 deuce situation | Ad |
When the score is announced, the serving player’s score is always said first. For example, if the server has won 15 points and their opponent has none, the score will be called out as “15-love.” The server is also shown first on the scoreboard. So, if a player is serving, their score is listed first, and the opponent’s score follows. Sometimes, the serving player has a dot next to their name on the scoreboard to indicate that they are the one serving.
It’s all about winning points to win games, and winning games to win sets.
When a player wins a game, they get one point added to their scoreboard. To win a set, a player needs to win 6 games, but they must be ahead by at least two games. So, if the score is 6-5, the player needs to win one more game to make it 7-5 and win the set.
If the score is tied at 6 games each, the set is decided by a tiebreak. In a tiebreak, the first player to win 7 points (with at least a 2-point lead) wins the set.
Here is an example of a full tennis match scoreboard:
If you’re interested to learn more about how tennis scoring works, check out this article.
