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Tennis scoring builds in four steps: points make games, games make sets, and sets make a match. In standard play, a game is called love, 15, 30, 40; a set is usually won by reaching six games with a two-game lead; and the match goes to the player who wins the required number of sets. The competition’s rules determine how deuce, a 6–6 set, and a deciding final set are handled.
The scoring ladder: points, games, sets, and matches
The International Tennis Federation (ITF), which publishes the Rules of Tennis, describes tennis as a sequence of nested scores: points determine a game, games determine a set, and sets determine the match. Its rules portal and glossary provide the general framework: ITF Rules and Regulations and ITF glossary and rules resources.
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Points make a game
In a standard game, the score calls are love (zero), 15 (one point), 30 (two), and 40 (three). A player normally needs to win by two points. If both players reach three points, the score is deuce rather than 40–40 in spoken scoring.
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Games make a set
A standard set is won by the first player to take at least six games with a margin of two. So 6–4 wins, while 5–5 is not yet decided: a player can take the next two games to win 7–5. What happens at 6–6 depends on whether the event uses a tiebreak set or an advantage set.
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Sets make the match
“Best of three” means the first player to win two sets wins the match. “Best of five” means the first to win three sets takes it. These terms describe the maximum number of sets, not a requirement to play all of them; the match ends once a player reaches the winning total. The ITF glossary explains the basic scoring terms in its rules and glossary materials.
What happens at deuce?
In advantage scoring, a player at deuce must win two consecutive points to take the game. Winning the first point gives that player advantage; winning the next wins the game. If the player with advantage loses the next point, the score returns to deuce, and the two-point sequence starts again.
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Some competitions use no-ad scoring instead. At deuce, one deciding point determines the game, so there is no advantage point followed by a possible return to deuce. In doubles, the event may also specify which receiver takes that deciding point. No-ad is an approved alternative format, not the default rule for every match; see the ITF’s Rules of Tennis.
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When a competition uses a tiebreak set, a set tied at six games each is decided by a tiebreak. In the usual set tiebreak, the first player to reach at least seven points with a two-point margin wins. If the score reaches 6–6 in the tiebreak, play continues until someone leads by two—for example, 8–6 or 9–7.
The set score is recorded as 7–6 even if the tiebreak itself goes beyond seven points. This is a set tiebreak: it resolves a 6–6 game score within a set. It is not the same thing as a match tiebreak used in place of a deciding set. The ITF rules materials describe the standard set tiebreak and its two-point margin: ITF rules and regulations.
Set tiebreak or advantage set?
Not every set ends with a tiebreak at 6–6. The event’s format specifies which of these set endings applies.
| Format | What happens at 6–6 | How the set ends |
|---|---|---|
| Tiebreak set | A set tiebreak is played. | The tiebreak winner takes the set, recorded 7–6. |
| Advantage set | Play continues; there is no tiebreak at 6–6. | A player must lead by two games, such as 8–6. |
Both formats follow the same principle that a player must establish a winning margin, but they differ in how long a close set can continue. The ITF recognizes approved alternative scoring methods, and the tournament rules determine which format is in force. The ITF Rules of Tennis are the starting point for the general rules; consult the current rules for the specific event for its format.
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What is a match tiebreak?
A match tiebreak replaces the deciding final set after players reach the specified tied-set score. It occupies the final-set slot rather than resolving a set tied at 6–6. Under ITF-approved alternatives, match tiebreaks can use a target of seven or ten points, and the winner still needs a two-point margin. The event rules specify which target applies.
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For example, a format might use ordinary sets until the match is level at one set apiece, then use a 10-point match tiebreak instead of playing a third set. That example is not a universal rule: formats vary by event and draw. The ITF’s rules materials describe approved alternatives.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why match formats vary
The same tournament may prescribe different combinations of game, set, and match scoring for different draws. ITF World Tennis Tour materials, for example, describe best-of-three tiebreak sets for singles main draws while specifying a 10-point match tiebreak in the deciding-set slot for certain qualifying and doubles formats; the cited doubles context also uses no-ad scoring. These are examples of event rules, not a universal template for professional tennis. The ITF’s World Tennis Tour FAQ explains its format by draw.
Formats for beginners and junior players can be shorter still. ITF Play and Stay guidance includes options such as short sets, tiebreaks, and timed matches, designed for learning and recreational play rather than as a statement of standard full-match scoring. See ITF Tennis Play and Stay.
How to tell which rules apply to a match
- Identify the competition and draw. A singles main draw, qualifying draw, doubles draw, junior event, or recreational session may use different formats.
- Check the event’s current rules or published format. Look specifically for game scoring (advantage or no-ad), set ending (tiebreak or advantage set), and the deciding-set rule (full set or match tiebreak).
- Confirm the tiebreak target. If the rules call for a match tiebreak, check whether it is played to seven or ten points; either way, the winner needs a two-point margin.
Rules and format notices can change between editions. The ITF rules portal provides general rules, while the named event’s current regulations determine the exact format for that match. The source materials consulted here include the ITF Rules of Tennis (2024 edition), the 2025 and 2026 WTA rulebooks, and ITF pages accessed October 4, 2026.
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