Tennis rules & scoring
The tennis scoring system works across four stages: points, games, sets and matches.
Understanding how tennis scoring works is straightforward once you know the basics which is that a player needs to win points to win games, games to win sets, and sets to win the match.
Below we explain every stage of the tennis point system, including how tie-breaks work.
What are the rules of tennis?
The basic rules of tennis are:
- Players must hit the ball over the net and within the court boundaries
- Points are scored when the opponent cannot return the ball
- 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
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.
The rules of tennis are controlled by the International Tennis Federation. We’ve outlined some basic scoring in tennis information below, but you can find the full list of rules and scoring on the ITF website.
Tennis scoring works in three stages:
- Points: 15, 30, 40, game (two points needed to win from deuce)
- Games: First to four points (with a two-point lead)
- Sets: First to six games with a two-game lead; tie-break at 6–6
- Match: Best of three or best of five sets
Game
A standard game is scored as follows with the server’s score being called first:
- No point - “Love”
- First point - “15”
- Second point - “30”
- Third point - “40”
- Fourth point - “Game”
If both players reach 40–40 (three points each), the score is called deuce. A player must then win two consecutive points to win the game. The first point after deuce is called advantage. If that same player/team also wins the next point, that player/team wins the game; if the opposing player/team wins the next point, the score is again deuce.
Set
How many games are there in a set in tennis?
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.
How many sets are in a tennis match?
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).
How many sets to win in tennis?
If players are playing to the best of three sets, the winner must win two sets. For best of five sets, the winner must win three sets.
Match
How do you win a tennis match?
A match can be played to the best of three sets (a player/team needs to win two sets to win the match) or to the best of five sets (a player/team needs to win three sets to win the match).
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.
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.
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 |
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
Start playing
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FAQs
The basic rules of tennis are straightforward. Players must hit the ball over the net and into the opponent's court.
Points are won when the opponent fails to return the ball legally. A game is won by reaching four points with a two-point lead, a set by reaching six games with a two-game lead, and a match by winning the required number of sets.
The full rules of tennis are governed by World Tennis.
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.