Tennis scoring explained: points, games, sets and tiebreaks

Tennis scores have three layers: points make a game, games make a set, and sets make the match. A live line such as 6-4 3-2 30-15 reads as: first set won 6-4, second set at 3 games to 2, and the current game at 30-15 to the player serving.

Points within a game

Points are counted 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, then game. The server's score is always said first.

If both players reach 40, the score is deuce. A player must then win two points in a row: the first gives advantage, the second wins the game. Lose the next point from advantage and it's back to deuce. Some events, mostly doubles, use no-ad scoring instead, where the next point at deuce decides the game.

Games and sets

A set goes to the first player to win six games with a lead of two. So 6-4 ends a set, but 6-5 doesn't; the set continues to 7-5 or to 6-6.

At 6-6, a tiebreak is played. Points are counted 1, 2, 3 and the first to seven with a two-point lead takes the set 7-6. Scoreboards often show the loser's tiebreak points in small type or brackets, so 7-6(4) means the tiebreak ended 7-4.

Who serves

Players alternate serving games. In a tiebreak, one player serves the first point, then each serves two points in turn. Players change ends after the first game and every two games after that, and every six points in a tiebreak. On our live scores a small dot marks the player serving.

How many sets

• Most tour matches are best of three sets: first to win two.
• Men's singles at the four Grand Slams are best of five.
• Since 2022 all four Grand Slams settle a deciding set at 6-6 with a tiebreak to ten points, win by two.

A break of serve

Serving is an advantage, so winning a game on your opponent's serve, a break, is the key moment in most sets. A set score of 6-4 usually means one break. When you see a player "a break up" at 3-1, they've won one more return game than their opponent.