RULES · SCORING
Tennis scoring without the confusion
A tennis match is built in layers: points make a game, games make a set, and sets make a match. The unusual words only describe where you are inside those layers.
Checked against the 2026 ITF Rules of Tennis · Updated 1 September 2026Start with these three ideas
- 01Inside a game, the score moves from love to 15, 30 and 40.
- 02At 40–40, one player normally needs two points in a row: advantage, then game.
- 03Win enough games to take the set; many sets use a tie-break at 6–6.
INTERACTIVE SCORE EXAMPLES
Tap a score and see what the next point changes.
The court shows the rally. The score card tells you whether the point changes only the game, finishes the game, or starts a tie-break.
Loading the 3D point…
15–30 → 30–30The server wins the rally. Only the score inside this game changes.
Drag to rotate · Double-click to reset01 / POINTS
Love simply means zero
The server’s score is said first. From zero, a player moves through 15, 30 and 40. If the server has won two points and the receiver one, the score is 30–15.
Winning the next point after 40 normally wins the game—unless both players reach 40.
02 / DEUCE
At 40–40, build a two-point lead
A 40–40 score is called deuce. Win the next point and you have advantage. Win again and you take the game.
Lose the point while holding advantage and the score returns to deuce. Some casual and tournament formats use no-ad scoring instead, so check the format before playing.
03 / SETS AND MATCHES
Games are the bigger scoreboard
A common set is won by the first player to six games with a lead of two. At 6–6, many formats use a tie-break, although the exact final-set format can vary by competition.
Matches are commonly best of three sets. The event decides the format, so a short club match and a major tournament do not always look identical.