If you’re new to tennis, the scoring system might feel like a never-ending puzzle. Why does it go 15, 30, 40 instead of something logical like one, two, three? What’s the deal with terms like "deuce" and "love"? And how does a match actually end? Compared to other sports with straightforward scoring, tennis plays by its own set of rules. 

But once you break it down, tennis scoring is easy to follow and adds a unique excitement and strategy to the game. Whether you’re planning to watch the next Grand Slam or join a local game, this guide will walk you through the basics of learning to play tennis.

Tennis scoring rules are structured similarly to a pyramid with each phase building upon the last. Points score games, games score sets and sets score matches. But a lot goes into winning the overall match — with a lot of special conditions — so here’s a breakdown of what you need to know.

Who serves first? Let the coin decide 

Before a tennis match begins, the serving player is determined by flipping a coin. The winner decides who serves or which side of the tennis court to start, while the other player picks whatever’s left. From there, the serve bounces back and forth every game. 

In a tie-break, the serve changes things up. The first player serves just one point and then players trade off every two points. Think: Player B takes the second and third points, then Player A serves the fourth and fifth. To keep things fair, whoever didn’t serve in the previous set kicks off the next one. 

Game scoring

Tennis is different from most games in that it doesn’t score in one-point increments. Instead, a tennis game is scored: 

- 15 for the first point a player scores

- 30 for the second point

- 40 for the third point

- Winning the next point wins the game – unless the score is tied at 40-40, known as "deuce."

In the event of a tie, a player needs to win two consecutive points to end the game. The player that scores the next point has the advantage and only needs to score one more time. If they lose the next point, the score returns to a tie and they’ll have to try again.

The origin of the tennis point system (15, 30, 40) isn't fully clear, but one theory suggests it comes from a clock face. Points were marked by moving the hand from 15, to 30, to 45, and then to 60. Over time, 45 was shortened to 40 to make it easier to announce and distinguish from other scores during play. 

Set scoring  

A set is made up of games. To win a set, a player usually needs to win six games. However, there’s a catch: they must lead by at least two games to claim the set. For example, a set score could be 6-4 or 7-5, but not 6-5. If both players win six games each, the set enters a tiebreak to determine the winner.

Tennis players also switch sides after each odd-numbered set within a set, not just between sets. This ensures neither player gains an advantage from external factors like wind, sun, or lighting conditions and keeps the game as fair as possible. 

Match scoring 

A match is made up of sets. To win the match, you need to win a certain number of sets. In most matches (like regular tournaments), it’s best of three sets. This means the first player to win two sets wins the match. In major tournaments like the men’s Grand Slams, it’s best of five sets. So, the first player to win three sets takes the match. The match ends when a player has won the required number of sets. 

Sometimes, deciding the final set works differently depending on the tournament:

- Tiebreak at 6-6: The first to 7 points with a 2-point lead wins the tiebreak and the set, ending the match.

- No tiebreak rule: Some events, like the French Open in the past, require players to win the final set by two games. This can lead to long matches – like the 11 hour marathon at Wimbledon between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in 2010. 

These days, most tournaments use tiebreaks to keep matches progressing at a reasonable rate. 

Advantage sets let players battle it out without relying on a tiebreak, making the set a true test of endurance and skill. If the players are tied at 6-6, they keep playing games until one player has a two-game lead over the other. This means the score could go well beyond the usual 6-4 or 7-5.

Like any set, the first player to win six games with a two-game lead wins. If it’s 6-6, the players continue playing additional games until one is ahead by two games. For example, the set score could be 8-6, 10-8 or 16-14.

The basic framework of points, games and sets remains the same for singles and doubles matches. However, there are some differences:

- Advantage scoring: There's no advantage scoring in many recreational and professional doubles matches. If the score reaches 40-40, the next point wins. 

- Serving the final point: In doubles, the receiving team chooses which player will return the tennis serve on the deciding point.

- Ending matches: Instead of playing a full third set, many doubles matches use a match tiebreak to decide the winner. The first team to score 10 points – with at least a 2-point lead – wins the set and the match.

Another factor that can affect both singles and doubles matches is the number of sets played. There are two variations:

- Best of three sets: If Player A wins two sets in a row (say, 6-4, 7-5), the match is over.

- Best of five sets: If Player B wins three sets (like 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5), the match ends there.

Three-set matches are the more common option, with five sets usually only coming up in Grand Slam tournaments for men’s singles. No matter how you play, understanding match formats helps you stay sharp and adapt to any game.

Just like its scoring rules, tennis has its own language. To fully enjoy the sport and keep up on the court, it’s essential to learn key terms that make up its vocabulary:

- Love: A score of zero in tennis. If the score is "15-love," it means one player has 15 points, and the other has none. The term ‘love’ likely comes from the French word for "egg" due to the similar shape of a zero.

- Deuce: A tied score of 40-40 in a game. To win from deuce, a player must win two consecutive points – first earning the advantage, then the game.

- Break point: A situation where the receiver is one point away from winning the game and "breaking" the server’s serve. The receiver has a break point if the server is down 30-40.

- Walkover: The player automatically wins a match because their opponent cannot play due to injury, illness, or other reasons. A walkover is not considered a played match.

- Ace: A serve that lands in the service box and is not touched by the opponent, winning the point outright.

- Double fault: The player fails to get their serve in on both the first and second attempts, resulting in losing the point.

- Let: The ball touches the net on a serve but lands in the correct service box. The serve is replayed.

- Unforced error: A mistake made by a player on an easy shot, not caused by the opponent’s play.

- Advantage in: If the server wins the point after deuce, they have the "advantage in" or “ad-in.”

- Advantage out: If the receiver wins the point after deuce, they have the "advantage out" or “ad-out.”

You’ll hear these terms often during a match and soon enough, they’ll feel like second nature. 

Now that you know the lingo and how tennis scoring works, it’s time to put your knowledge to use. Throw on your favorite tennis skirt and tank top or whatever tenniscore style you favor, and head to the court. The next time someone calls out “15-love,” you can explain what it means with confidence.