How to Keep Score in Tennis
Keeping score in tennis may seem a bit confusing at first, but it's actually straightforward once you understand the system. Tennis is scored using a combination of points, games, and sets. Here's a breakdown of how to keep score in tennis:
Points: The basic unit of scoring in tennis is the point. Players can earn points by winning rallies. The scoring starts at "love" (0 points) and then progresses to 15, 30, and 40 points. The next point after 40 is the "game point."
Love: 0 points
15: 1 point
30: 2 points
40: 3 points
Game Point: The point earned after 40. If the player wins this point, they win the game. However, if the score reaches 40-40, it's called "Deuce."
Deuce: When both players reach 40 points, it's called Deuce. The player who wins the next point after Deuce gets the "Advantage." If the player with Advantage wins the next point, they win the game. But if they lose the point, the score goes back to Deuce.
Games: To win a set in tennis, you need to win a certain number of games. Typically, a set is won by being the first player to win six games, with a margin of at least two games. So, the score might look like 6-4, 7-5, etc. However, if the set is tied at 6-6, a tiebreaker is played.
Tiebreaker: If the set reaches 6-6, a tiebreaker is used to determine the winner of that set. In a tiebreaker, one player serves once, then they each serve 2 points after that. The first player to reach 7 points with a margin of at least two points wins the tiebreaker and the set. The tiebreaker score might look like 7-6, 8-6, etc.
Sets: Matches are usually played as best-of-three sets or best-of-five sets in major tournaments. In best-of-three sets, the first player to win two sets wins the match. In best-of-five sets, the first player to win three sets wins the match.
Remember that tennis scoring can vary slightly depending on the tournament or level of play, but this is the general format used in most matches. Once you get the hang of it, keeping score in tennis becomes more intuitive.
