Tennis has a unique scoring system in sports, with names like these love, deuce, point of restagain a tiebreak it often confuses fans and new players.
In this guide, you will learn the most important terms for tennis goals, what they mean, and how they are used during the game.
How Tennis Scores Work
The game of tennis consists of:
- Points
- Games
- Sets
- Compare
Players win points to win matches, matches to win sets, and sets to win a match.
Basic Tennis Point Scores
A common scoring sequence in tennis is:
| Points Won | Tennis score |
|---|---|
| 0 | Love |
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 30 |
| 3 | 40 |
| 4 | Game (if leading by two points) |
Example:
- 15–0 = server wins first point
- 30–15 = server has two points, opponent has one
- 40–30 = server is one point away from winning the match
General Principles of Tennis Hitting
Love
“Love” means zero points.
Examples:
- Love-15
- 30-Love
- Love-Love
No one knows the exact origin of the term, but it has been used in tennis scoring for centuries.
Deuce
Deuce occurs when both players reach 40–40 in the game.
At deuce, the player must win two consecutive points to win the game.
Profit
After deuce:
- The player who wins the next point gets a profit
- If they win the next point, they win the game
- If they lose the next point, the score goes back to deuce
Examples:
- Advantage Federer
- Advertisement (server profit)
- Advertisement (recipient benefits)
The game
A player wins a game by winning at least four points and leading by two points.
Example points:
- 40–15 → one point in the game
- Profit → one point in the game
Set up
A player wins a set by winning at least six games and leading by two games.
Common set scores include:
If the score reaches 6-6, a tiebreak is usually played.
Compare
The same is often played like this:
- Best of 3 sets (most ATP/WTA events)
- Best of 5 sets (Men’s Grand Slams)
The player who wins the required number of sets wins the game.
Tiebreak
A tiebreak is used to decide a set when the score reaches 6-6.
Players earn points in general:
The first player to reach 7 points leading by two points wins the tiebreak and the set.
Example:
Super Tiebreak
A super tiebreak is often used instead of the final set in doubles matches and other tournaments.
First player/team to reach 10 points by winning by two points.
Break Point
A break point occurs when the receiving player is one point away from winning the game when the opponent plays.
Examples:
- 30–40
- Great host
Breaking the serve is considered very important in tennis because the serve provides a natural advantage.
Service Leave
A break of service occurs when a player wins a game when served by his opponent.
Example:
If the score goes from 2–2 to 3–2 after the receiver has won the game, they break serve.
Hold Serve
Grabbing food means winning your own service game.
Players with powerful servers tend to have higher percentages.
Double mistake
A double fault occurs when a player misses two serves in the same position, automatically losing a point.
Ace
An ace is a serve that the opponent cannot touch with his racket.
Big servers like John Isner and Ivo Karlović are famous for hitting huge numbers of aces.
Allow
Enabling occurs when:
- The server is recording the net
- But you still live in the right service box
The server is replayed without penalty.
Unforced Error
An unforced error is an error made by a player without serious pressure from an opponent.
Examples include:
- There is no easy prediction
- Hitting a simple volley into the net
The winner
The winner is the shot that lands and cannot be returned by the opponent.
Love Set
A love set is a set won 6–0.
Example:
Bagel and Double Bagel
A “bagel” means something for winning the set 6–0 because zero is like a bagel. A “double bagel” is when you win 6-0, 6-0.
Bread
“Breadstick” means a score of 6–1 sets.
Gold set
A golden set is when a player wins a set without losing a single point.
It is very rare in professional tennis.
An example is the game of tennis
Here’s an example of how goals progress in the game:
- Love-Love
- 15-Love
- 15–15
- 30–15
- 40–15
- The game
If the score reaches 40-40:
- Deuce
- Advantage Player A
- Deuce
- Advantage Player B
- Game player B
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the tennis score go 15, 30, 40?
The exact origin is unclear, but it is believed to come from the old French clock face scoring systems used in the early days of tennis.
What does “love” mean in tennis?
Love means zero points or zero games in tennis scoring.
What is a deuce in tennis?
Deuce occurs when both players reach 40-40. A player must win two consecutive points to win the game.
What is the point of rest in tennis?
A break point is when the receiving player is one point away from winning the server game.
What is the difference between tiebreak and super tiebreak?
A regular tiebreak is usually played to 7 points, while a super tiebreak is played to 10 points.
What does it mean to “hold worship”?
Grabbing food means winning your own service game.
What is a bagel in tennis?
The bagel scores 6-0.
What is a gold set?
A golden set is when a player wins the entire set without losing a single point.
