How to Score a Tennis Match

Game, set, match

In tennis there are games and sets. To win a match, a player must be the first to win six games (and win by two games). Typically a match is won by winning two sets.

Love, 15, 30, 40

You will always start a game on the deuce side. The next point you will start on the ad side.

Need help with deuce and ad mean? See our guide to tennis terms.

The server will always call the score and say his or her score first. To win a game, a player must win four points (with some exceptions that we'll explain in a bit). In tennis, the points in a game aren't simply 1, 2 and 3. Instead, you will hear 15, 30, 40.

English to tennis translation

When you have a tied score, in tennis that is called "all." For example, if each player has won a single point (called 15), the server will call the score 15 All. Two points each is 30 All. But in tennis, the score when you get to 3-3 is not 40 All. That score is called "deuce."

English to tennis translation

You need to win the game by two points. Once at deuce, you will begin to use "Advantage" or "Ad." If the server wins the deuce point, the next point is called "Ad In." If the server wins the Ad point, the game is over, and the server "held" serve. However, if the returner wins the next point, the score goes back to deuce. When the returner wins the deuce point, the score is called "Ad Out." When a returner wins a game, we say the returner "broke" serve, meaning the serving player lost the game.