Tennis rules: scoring, courts, singles, doubles & more
Whether you're picking up a racket for the first time or need a quick refresher before your next match, understanding the rules of tennis is simpler than it might seem.
Tennis is played as singles (one player against one player) or doubles (two players on each team), with players competing to win points, games, sets, and ultimately the match.
This guide explains the basic rules of tennis, how scoring works, serving rules, tie-breaks, and the key differences between singles and doubles tennis.
Tennis rules at a glance
- Tennis can be played as singles or doubles
- Players score points, games, sets and matches
- Four points usually wins a game
- Six games usually wins a set
- Matches are normally best of three sets
Quick links
- Basic rules of tennis
- Tennis court and lines
- How scoring works
- Serving rules
- Singles tennis rules
- Doubles tennis rules
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What are the rules of tennis?
How to play
- Hit the ball over the net
- Keep the ball inside the court boundaries
- The ball can only bounce once before you hit it – you can also hit it before it bounces
- You win a point when opponents can’t return the ball
How to score
- A game is won by reaching four points with a two-point lead
- A set is won by reaching six games with a two-game lead
- A match is won by winning the required number of sets
Understanding the tennis court
Tennis court lines explained:
|
Tennis line |
Where on court |
|
Baseline |
The line at the back of the court |
|
Service line |
Horizontal line through the middle of the court |
|
Centre service line |
Vertical line through the middle of the court |
|
T line |
Small vertical line in the middle of the baseline |
|
Tramlines |
The two vertical lines on the outside of the court. The inside line marks the singles court and the outside line marks the doubles court |
How does tennis scoring work?
Tennis scoring works across four stages: points, games, sets and matches. Players progress through each stage to win a match.
How points work
|
Points won |
Score |
|
0 |
Love |
|
1 |
15 |
|
2 |
30 |
|
3 |
40 |
|
4 |
Game* |
Deuce and advantage
If both players reach 40–40 (three points each), the score is called deuce. From deuce, a player must win two consecutive points to win the game.
The first point won after deuce gives the player/team "advantage". If that player/team wins the next point, they win the game. If their opponent wins the next point, the score returns to deuce. This continues until one player wins two consecutive points.
How games, sets and matches work
Usually, there are six games in one set of tennis.
The first player/team to win six games wins that set, provided there is a margin of two games over the opponent(s). If the score reaches six games all, a tie-break game shall be played.
A tennis match is typically played as best of three or best of five sets. To win the match, a player must win two sets (best of three) or three sets (best of five).
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Serving rules
Here are the basic rules for serving in tennis:
- Serve behind baseline – your feet must be behind the baseline when you hit the serve
- Serve diagonally – when serving, you have to hit the ball into the service box diagonally opposite from where you’re standing. You alternate which side of the baseline you serve from after each point
- Two serves allowed – you get two opportunities to hit a serve in for each point. Once you hit the ball in the point is live
- Foot faults – a foot fault is when you step in the court as you’re hitting the serve. Even if this serve lands in, it doesn’t count and is treated as a fault
- Let – if your serve hits the top of the net and then lands in, the serve doesn’t count and has to be retaken. This is called a let
- Double faults – if you miss both your serves in a single point, the point goes to your opponent. This is called a double fault
Singles tennis rules
Singles tennis is played between two players, one on either side of the court. Singles follows a traditional tennis scoring system – points, games, sets and match.
There are other formats you can score matches with, including tie-breaks and FAST4, and you can also play without scoring at all.
Court dimensions in singles
In singles, players can use the court up to the inside tramline. If the ball lands within the tramlines or outside, the shot is out.
Serving order in singles
In a singles match, players take it in turn to serve between games.
Doubles tennis rules
Doubles tennis follows the same scoring system as singles tennis, but there are four players on court, with two players on each team.
Court dimensions in doubles
In doubles, players use the full width of the court, including the doubles tramlines. This makes the court wider than in singles matches.
Serving order in doubles
At the start of each set, each doubles team decides which player serves first. Players then take turns serving throughout the set.
For example:
- Team A Player 1 serves
- Team B Player 1 serves
- Team A Player 2 serves
- Team B Player 2 serves
The order remains the same until a new set begins.
Receiving in doubles
Before the first game, each team decides which player will receive from each side of the court.
Players must keep the same receiving positions throughout the set.
Does doubles use the same scoring system?
Yes. Doubles matches use the same points, games and sets structure as singles. Some recreational and competition formats may use no-ad scoring or a match tie-break instead of a deciding set.
Other tennis scoring formats
A tie-break is played when a set reaches 6–6. The first player to reach seven points with a two-point lead wins the tie-break and the set. If necessary, the tie-break game continues until this margin is achieved.
During a tie-break game in tennis, points are scored “zero”, “1”, “2”, “3”, etc.
You can also play a match tie-break. This follows the same format, but it's up to 10 points.
FAST4 Tennis provides a simple, exciting way of speeding up a conventional tennis match. The fundamentals of tennis remain the same, but there are four rules that ensure matches are fast, competitive, exciting and can be completed in a reasonable period of time.
- First to four games wins
It doesn’t matter how you get there, just make sure you do before your opponent does!
- Tie-break at 3 games all
At 3 games all a tie-break is played to 7 points, 2 clear at 6-6.
- No ad scoring
If the score reaches deuce, it’s a sudden death point. The receiver chooses which side to take the serve on. This also applies in doubles with the receiving pair deciding who receives the serve. However the pair cannot change positions. In mixed doubles the player of the same gender shall receive.
- Match tie-break at 1 set all
If the score reaches one set all, then a match tie-break will decide the match. The match tie-break will be played to 10 points, 2 clear at 9-9 to determine the outcome of the match.
Explore junior FAST4 tennis competitions
Explore adult FAST4 tennis competitions
Mini Tennis follows slightly different scoring formats at each age/ball colour:
| 8U (Red) |
9U (Orange) | 10U (Green) | 12U Open (Yellow) |
| One Match Tiebreak (to 10 points) |
OR Best of 3 Tiebreak OR One short set (to 4 games) |
One short set (tp 4 games) OR Best of 2 short sets and a Match Tiebreak (to 10 points) OR FAST4 |
Best of 2 FAST4 Sets and a Match Tiebreak (to 10 Points) Best of 2 Tiebreak Sets and a Match Tiebreak (to 10 Points) OR Best of 3 Tiebreak sets |
Padel is played slightly differently to tennis - players team up in doubles of mixed abilities and play on an enclosed court about a third of the size of a tennis court.
However - scoring is exactly the same as tennis, following the Set, Match, Game format.
For more information on Padel rules, head over to our page where you can learn more about the sport, rules, and how to get started.
FAQs
To win a set in tennis, you generally need to win at least six games and be ahead by two games. For example, a set can be won 6-4 or 6-2. If the score reaches 5-5, a player needs to win the next two games to take the set to 7-5. If the set reaches 6-6, a tie-break is usually played, with the first player to reach seven points - or 10 on a match deciding tie-break - and lead by two winning the set.
It depends on the format. Most recreational and professional matches are played as best of three sets, meaning the first player to win two sets wins the match.
At Grand Slams, men play best of five sets, so a player must win three sets to win the match. Women play best of three sets at all professional tournaments, including Grand Slams.
A standard set in tennis is won by the first player to reach six games, provided they are at least two games ahead of their opponent.
If the score reaches 6-6, a tie-break is usually played to decide the set. In some formats, such as the final set at Wimbledon, a match tie-break may also apply instead.
Tennis uses an unusual points system: zero is called 'love', the first point is 15, the second is 30, and the third is 40.
The fourth point wins the game, unless both players reach 40, which is called 'deuce.'
From deuce, a player must win two consecutive points as the first gives them 'advantage,' and if they win the next point they take the game. If they lose it, the score returns to deuce.
In tennis, "love" means zero. For example, 15-love means the server has won one point and the opponent has won no points.
Deuce means both players have reached 40-40. From deuce, a player must win two points in a row to win the game.
Advantage is the point won after deuce. If the same player wins the next point, they win the game. If they lose it, the score returns to deuce.
The player whose turn it is to serve starts the tie-break with one point on serve. After that, players usually serve two points each until the tie-break is finished.