Tennis Scoring


The Game

A tennis game is won when a player wins four points (provided there is a two point advantage).

The server always serves to the opponent's left service box (the deuce side) first.
The next point is served to the right service box (the ad side).
The remaining points alternate between the deuce and ad sides.

Zero is called 'love' so every game starts at 0-0 (love all).

Points are called

15
30
40
Game

The server ALWAYS announces the score before EVERY point, saying THEIR score first.

Possible scores during a game are

                        Points for    Points for
Score  Server says        Server      Opponent      

0-0    love all             0            0

15-0    fifteen love        1            0
0-15    love fifteen        0            1

30-0    thirty love         2            0
15-15  fifteen all          1            1
0-30    love thirty         0            2

40-0    forty love          3            0
30-15  thirty fifteen       2            1
15-30  fifteen thirty       1            2
0-40    love forty          0            3

40-15  forty fifteen        3            1
30-30  thirty all           2            2
15-40  fifteen forty        1            3


40-30  forty thirty         3            2
30-40  thirty forty         2            3

40-40  deuce                1            0
Once the score is deuce, a player must win two consecutive points to win the game.
        ad in            server wins  the first point after deuce
        ad out          server loses the first point after deuce
If the person with 'ad' wins the next point, they win the game.
If the other person wins the next point, the score goes back to deuce and the game continues.


Changing sides of the net

Players must change sides of the net after every odd-numbered game (first, third, fifth, etc.).

After the first game, play must be continuous.

After the third, fifth, etc. game, the players have 90 seconds on the changeover.

ALWAYS talk with your coach during the 90 seconds!!


Alternating Serve

Players alternate serving games.

In doubles, one player serves first, then one opponent.
Then the partner of the first server, then the partner of the second server.
Then this rotation continues.


The Set

A tennis set is won when a player wins six games (provided there is a two game advantage).

If a set gets to 5-5 (five all) a player can win 7-5.

If a set gets to 6-6 (six all) a tiebreak is played.


The Tiebreak (Singles)

Scoring for this game is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.

The first player to score 7 points with at least a two point advantage wins the tiebreak, and the set.

The player who served first in the set serves one point to the deuce side.
The other player then serves two points, first to the ad side, then to the deuce side.
Then the players continue to each serve two points, always starting on the ad side.

Players change sides of the net every six points during the tiebreak.


The tiebreak (Doubles)

The player who served the first first in the set serves one point to the deuce side.
The player from the other team who served the second game then serves two points, first to the ad side, then to the deuce side.
The partner of the player who served first then serves two points, first to the ad side, then to the deuce side.
The partner of the player who served second then serves two points, first to the ad side, then to the deuce side.
The rotation continues with each player serving two points until
one team has at least seven points with at least a two-point advantage.

Teams change sides of the net every six points during the tiebreak.


Players are allowed a two-minute break between sets.

ALWAYS talk with your coach during the two minutes!!


The Match

A match is best two of three sets.


The Varsity Competition

There are three singles matches and two doubles matches played when one school hosts another school.
The school that wins three or more matches wins the varsity competition.


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