How do you keep score in tennis?

Answer

Tennis consists of the best of two out of three “sets”. (Note that if you are in men’s professional tennis it can be the best three out of five sets.) To win a set you must be the first person to win 6 games and have to be ahead by at least 2 games. (i.e. You won 6 games and your opponents has won 4 or less games.) However, sometimes you will get to a game score of 5 – 5. In this case, you will need to win the set by 7 – 5 games. If you end up going to a game score of 6 – 6 then you will have to play a tie breaker.

There are two types of tie breakers. The first is the “7 point tie breaker” in which you play the first person to win 7 points and be ahead by 2. Or the “10 point tie breaker” which is normally used in place of a third set. In this tie breaker you must be the first person to win 10 points and be ahead by 2.

In each “game” you start at “love – love”. The point values are love, 15, 30, 40, and game. If you tie at 40 – 40 you call this deuce. Then you use “add in” and “add ou” depending on whether you won or lost the deuce point respectively.

This answer is closed to changes. This is done in rare cases when questions are being vandalized or answers have become debates. Email WikiAnswers @ Answers.com if you would like it to be reopened.

First answer by JillianG. Last edit by JillianG. Contributor trust: 357 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 84 [recommend question]