Usually, when someone picks up tennis as a new hobby or sport, they get frustrated with the scoring, understandably so. There are so many different terms and ways to score that it seems impossible. In this post, I’ll try to break it down as simply as possible so you can get a basic understanding!
Firstly, let’s talk about a match. The match is the whole competition. You will play a match when you go out to play competitive tennis. In every match, there are sets. A set is compiled of games. Each game has multiple points in it. To win a set, you have to win 6 games, and you have to win by two games. The scoring in a game is a little more complicated because it is not scored as “1, 2, 3, 4, Game.” Games are scored as “LOVE (0), 15, 30, 40, Game.” The server always announces their score first, and the serve always begins on the Deuce (right) side of the court. After the first point, it is either LOVE-15 (0-15), or 15- LOVE(15-0), depending on who won the point. The second point is played on the Ad (Left) side. This continues until the game is completed. If the score gets to 40-40, this is called Deuce. Either player has to win the next two points in a row to win the game. If the server wins the Deuce point, the score is announced AD IN. The score is announced AD OUT if the returner wins the Deuce point. For example, if the server wins the Deuce point, but loses the Ad point, the score returns to Deuce. This can happen many times. Another thing to remember is that players switch ends of the court every odd game (after the first game, then every two games). You have a 90-second break starting with changing sides at the third game. This is also when you change the set score on your score cards.
After playing many games, you may find yourself at a score of 6-5. Even though you have gotten 6 games, you have not won the set because you have not won by two games. So you will either have to win one more game to make the set score 7-5, or the score will go to 6-6, and a set tie-breaker must be played. In a tie-breaker, the first server serves one point from the Deuce side. After that point, the opposite server serves the following two points, starting on the Ad side and ending with Deuce. This two-point serving pattern continues until someone wins the tie-breaker. The tie-breaker is scored in intervals of 1 (1, 2, 3… so on) until someone reaches 7 points (again by two). In USTA play, players switch ends after the first point, then after every four points (or the score will show every five points when both scores are added together). In all other competitive play other than USTA, players switch ends every 6 points.
A match is always best two sets out of three (unless you are a man playing in one of the grand slams). If you are playing USTA, the third set is replaced with a match tie-breaker. Don’t freak out! It is played the same way as a set tie-breaker, only the score goes to 10 points (by two, of course) because it is played in place of a set. When you are playing in tournaments, the director can choose whether you will play a full set or a match tie-breaker.
If you feel like I have completely melted your brain at this point, do not feel bad. It is a lot of information. After reading this, it is good to grab a friend who knows how to play, go out, and walk through the scoring point by point. Sometimes, it is easier to learn by actually playing the points out. I have also attached a great video that explains step by step how to score!
