How Does Tennis Scoring Work? Points, Games, Sets, Tie-Breaks

How does tennis scoring work? It looks strange at first, but it's just three layers stacked together: points win games, games win sets, and sets win the match. Once you know the words (love, deuce, advantage), you'll be calling the score like a regular in one session.

This guide follows the ITF Rules of Tennis (2026) and includes the approved shortcuts most casual players use. For the rest of the basics, see our complete tennis guide for beginners.

How tennis scoring works in a game

Points in a standard game are called:

Always say the server's score first. "30–15" means the server has two points, the receiver one. When both have the same score, say "all": "15-all," "30-all."

Deuce and advantage

If both players reach 40 (three points each), the score is deuce. From deuce, you need to win two points in a row:

• Win the next point: "Advantage" (often "ad-in" for the server, "ad-out" for the receiver).
• Win the point after that: game.
• Lose it: back to deuce.

A game can go back to deuce as many times as needed.

Worked example: one game

Anna serves to Ben.

1. Anna wins: 15–love
2. Ben wins: 15-all
3. Anna wins: 30–15
4. Ben wins: 30-all
5. Ben wins: 30–40 (Ben has a break point)
6. Anna wins: deuce
7. Anna wins: advantage Anna (ad-in)
8. Ben wins: deuce
9. Anna wins: advantage Anna
10. Anna wins: game Anna

Anna "held serve." If Ben had won, he would have "broken" her serve.

Scoring a set: first to six games

A set is won by the first player to win six games with a two-game lead: 6–0 through 6–4. If it reaches 5–5, you need 7–5. At 6–6, it depends on the format announced in advance:

• Tie-break set (most common): play a tie-break to decide the set, which ends 7–6.
• Advantage set: keep playing until someone leads by two games (8–6, 9–7 and so on).

Servers alternate every game. You call the game score with the server's games first, for example "3–2" when the server leads.

How a tennis tie-break works

In a standard tie-break, points are counted simply: 0, 1, 2, 3… The first to seven points with a two-point lead wins the tie-break and the set (7–5, 8–6, 12–10…).

Serving order in a tie-break:

1. The player whose turn it is serves one point, from the right side.
2. The opponent then serves two points (left side, then right).
3. Players keep alternating two points each until the end.

Players change ends after every six points (after 6, 12, 18 points played). The player who served first in the tie-break receives in the first game of the next set.

Worked example: tie-break

At 6–6, Anna serves first.

• Point 1 (Anna serves): Anna wins, 1–0
• Points 2–3 (Ben serves): split, 2–1 Anna
• Points 4–5 (Anna serves): Anna wins both, 4–1
• Point 6 (Ben serves): Ben wins, 4–2. Change ends.
• Point 7 (Ben serves): Ben wins, 4–3
• Points 8–9 (Anna serves): split, 5–4
• Points 10–11 (Ben serves): Anna wins both, 7–4. Anna wins the set 7–6.

Scoring a match: best of three or five

Most matches are best of three sets: win two sets to win. Some top professional events play best of five. A final score is written from the winner's perspective, set by set, for example 6–4, 3–6, 7–6.

Alternative scoring methods approved by the ITF

The ITF lists these as official alternatives in Appendix VI of the rules. They are very popular in recreational tennis and leagues because they make matches shorter and more predictable.

No-ad scoring

At deuce (40–40), play one deciding point: whoever wins it wins the game. The receiver chooses which side to receive from. In doubles, the receiving team can't switch positions for that point; in mixed doubles, the player of the same gender as the server receives it.

Short sets

First to four games with a two-game lead, and a tie-break at 4–4. The sanctioning body may instead set the tie-break at 3–3.

Match tie-break (10 points)

Instead of a full deciding set at one set all, play a single match tie-break: first to 10 points, win by two. It's scored like a regular tie-break and counts as the final set. A 7-point version also exists.

Final-set tie-break at 6–6

Some events play the deciding set normally and use a 10-point tie-break at 6–6 in that final set.

Different change-of-ends timing

An approved alternative changes ends after the first point of a tie-break and then every four points.

How to keep score without arguing

• The server calls the score before each point, loudly enough for everyone to hear.
• Call the game score at each change of ends.
• If you disagree, go back to the last score you both agree on and replay from there.

Easier still: use Kèo's free online tennis scorekeeper. Tap the side that won the point and it tracks points, games, sets, deuce and serve for you. You can choose the number of sets, ad or no-ad, and 6- or 4-game sets, and send the result to your opponent to confirm for a ranked match. Ranked results feed your Kèo rating.

For when a point is won or lost in the first place, see tennis rules for beginners. For doubles serving order, see tennis doubles rules and strategy.

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