<p>If you've ever watched tennis and thought "what on earth is happening with these numbers," you're not alone. Tennis scoring looks absolutely mental at first glance. Love means zero. 40 comes after 30. Sometimes games go on forever. It's chaos.</p> <p>But here's the thing: once you crack the code, tennis scoring actually makes sense. Sort of. Well, you'll at least understand what's happening when Djokovic and Alcaraz are battling it out at the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/australian-open">Australian Open</a>.</p> <p>Whether you're trying to follow a Grand Slam, <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-tennis">learning how to bet on tennis</a>, impress someone who loves this sport, or just understand why commentators get so excited about "break points," this guide will sort you out. By the end, you'll know why they say "love" when nobody's scored and why that weird 15-30-40 thing exists.</p> <p>Let's get into it.</p> <h2>The Basics: Points, Games, Sets, and Matches</h2> <p>Think of tennis scoring like Russian nesting dolls. Points make games. Games make sets. Sets make matches. Each level builds on the previous one.</p> <p>Here's the hierarchy:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Point</strong> = the smallest unit. Every time someone wins a rally, they win a point.</li> <li><strong>Game </strong>= a collection of points. First player to win enough points (usually four) wins the game.</li> <li><strong>Set = </strong>a collection of games. First player to win six games (with specific rules) wins the set.</li> <li><strong>Match</strong> = best of three or five sets, depending on the tournament.</li> </ul> <p>Simple example: "Djokovic beats Federer 6-4, 7-6, 6-3" means Djokovic won three sets. The first set was 6 games to 4, the second went to a tiebreak at 7-6, and the third was 6-3. We'll break down exactly what all those numbers mean.</p> <p>It's basically like football having goals, then quarters, then the full match. Just with significantly weirder numbers.</p> <h3>How Points Work in Tennis (0, 15, 30, 40)</h3> <p>Right, here's where tennis goes off the rails. Points don't count 1, 2, 3, 4 like normal sports. Instead, they go: <strong>0 (love), 15, 30, 40, game</strong>.</p> <ul> <li>First point won = 15</li> <li>Second point won = 30</li> <li>Third point won = 40</li> <li>Fourth point won = game (usually)</li> </ul> <p>You've probably noticed that 15, 30, 40 makes zero mathematical sense. Where's 45? Why not just count normally? We'll get to the history later, but for now, just accept that tennis looked at regular counting and said "nah."</p> <p>The score is always called with the server's points first. So if you hear "30-15," the server has 30 points and their opponent has 15. The server is whoever's hitting the ball to start each point.</p> <p>Think of it like golf. Nobody knows why we use these specific numbers, but we're stuck with them now.</p> <h3>What Does "Love" Mean in Tennis?</h3> <p>"Love" is tennis's fancy word for zero points. That's it.</p> <p>The most popular theory is that it comes from the French word "l'oeuf" (the egg), because zero looks like an egg. Alternatively, some people reckon it comes from playing "for love" – meaning for nothing, for free.</p> <p>Either way, it's tennis being poetic about someone not having scored yet.</p> <p>Examples:</p> <ul> <li>"Love-15" = server has zero points, opponent has 15</li> <li>"Love-all" or "Love-love" = 0-0, nobody's scored</li> <li>"40-love" = server has 40, opponent has zero</li> </ul> <p>Starting every game at "love" is tennis's way of being unnecessarily dramatic about a fresh start. But you'll get used to it.</p> <h2>Understanding Tennis Games</h2> <p>Alright, now you know what 15, 30, and 40 mean. But how do you actually win a game?</p> <h3>How Many Points to Win a Game?</h3> <p>You need to win a minimum of<strong> four points</strong> to win a game. But there's a catch – you need to win by two clear points.</p> <p>The simplest scenario: win four straight points. The score goes 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, game. Done. You've won the game.</p> <p>But if both players reach 40-40, it's called "deuce" (more on that next). At deuce, you can't just win the next point and call it a day. You need to win two consecutive points from deuce to seal the game.</p> <p>In theory, a game could go on forever if players keep trading points at deuce. It doesn't usually happen, but it's possible. Most games wrap up in under five minutes, though deuce situations can drag on like a bad first date.</p> <p>The longest games in tennis history have gone to multiple deuces. The infamous Isner-Mahut match at Wimbledon 2010 had games that lasted over 20 minutes. Both players probably aged a decade during that match.</p> <h3>What Is Deuce in Tennis?</h3> <p>Deuce happens when both players reach 40 points each. 40-40 = deuce.</p> <p>The word comes from the French "à deux" (to two) or "deux du jeu" (two to game), because you need two more points to win from this position.</p> <p>Here's the crucial bit: at deuce, you can't just win the next point and be done. You need to win <strong>two consecutive points</strong> from deuce to win the game.</p> <p>It's like tennis saying "prove you're actually better, not just lucky."</p> <p>Deuce can happen multiple times in a single game. You can go to deuce, someone wins a point, loses the next point, back to deuce, repeat. It's part of what makes tennis so gripping.</p> <p>Example of a game going to deuce:</p> <ul> <li>Score progresses: 0-0, 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 40-30, 40-40 (DEUCE)</li> <li>Now things get spicy.</li> </ul> <h3>Advantage and Breaking Serve</h3> <p>Once you're at deuce, the next point determines who gets "advantage" – often shortened to "ad."</p> <p><strong>How advantage works:</strong></p> <p>Win one point from deuce = you get advantage. The score becomes "advantage [player name]" or just "ad-in" if the server won it, "ad-out" if the returner won it.</p> <p>If you hold advantage and win the next point = you win the game.<br /> If you hold advantage and lose the next point = back to deuce.</p> <p>Example:</p> <ul> <li>Score is 40-40 (deuce)</li> <li>Nadal wins the point → "Advantage Nadal"</li> <li>Nadal wins the next point → Game to Nadal</li> <li>OR if his opponent wins that next point → Back to deuce</li> </ul> <p>Advantage is basically match point for that one game. The pressure is enormous.</p> <p><strong>Breaking Serve:</strong></p> <p>Tennis has servers and returners. The server starts each point by hitting the ball into play. Serving gives you a natural advantage because you control the first shot.</p> <p>When the returner wins the game, it's called "breaking serve" or "a break." This is massive in tennis.</p> <p>Break points are when the returner has a chance to win the server's game. For example, if the score is 30-40 in favor of the returner, that's a break point.</p> <p>Breaking serve shifts momentum like nothing else in tennis. Watch how pumped players get when they break – fist pumps, roars, the works. It's a big deal.</p> <p>If you're into betting, break points converted is one of the most important stats to track. Players who can't hold serve get demolished.</p> <h2>Tennis Sets Explained</h2> <p>Right, you know how to win a game. Now let's talk about winning a set.</p> <h3>How Many Games in a Set?</h3> <p>First player to win <strong>six games</strong> takes the set. But of course there's a catch – you need to win by two clear games.</p> <p>So you can't win a set 6-5. It has to be 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, or 6-0.</p> <p>If the set reaches 6-5, play continues until someone gets two games ahead. The set could end 7-5, 8-6, 9-7, and so on.</p> <p>Special case: if the set reaches 6-6, most tournaments go to a tiebreak (big section on this coming up).</p> <p><strong>Tennis slang:</strong></p> <ul> <li>"A bagel" = winning 6-0 (completely shutting someone out)</li> <li>"A breadstick" = winning 6-1</li> </ul> <p>Most sets are wrapped up by 6-4 or 6-3. Occasionally you'll see a marathon 7-5 where both players battled tooth and nail for every game.</p> <p>Real example: Wimbledon 2019 final – Djokovic beat Federer 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12. That last set alone took nearly two hours. Absolutely brutal.</p> <h3>How Many Sets Do You Need to Win?</h3> <p>This depends on whether you're male or female, and what tournament you're playing.</p> <p><strong>Men's Tennis:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Grand Slams (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) = best of five sets. You need to win three sets to win the match.</li> <li>Most other tournaments = best of three sets. You need to win two sets.</li> </ul> <p>Five-set matches can last four hours or more. It's a war of attrition. You'll see players cramping, struggling, digging deep. It's epic.</p> <p><strong>Women's Tennis:</strong></p> <ul> <li>All tournaments = best of three sets. You need to win two sets.</li> <li>This includes Grand Slams.</li> </ul> <p>There's ongoing debate about why women don't play best of five at Grand Slams, but that's the current setup.</p> <p>Shorter matches doesn't mean easier, by the way. The intensity in women's tennis is off the charts.</p> <p><strong>Examples:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>Men's Grand Slam match: you can win 3-0 (straight sets), 3-1, or 3-2 (coming back from being down)</p> </li> <li> <p>Regular tournament: you can win 2-0 or 2-1</p> </li> </ul> <p>Some matches are over in 90 minutes if someone's dominating 3-0 or 2-0. Others take five-plus hours in a 3-2 slugfest.</p> <p>If you're betting on match winner, knowing whether it's best of three or best of five matters. Underdogs have a better chance in shorter matches because there's less time for the favorite to impose themselves.</p> <h3>What About the Fifth Set?</h3> <p>Fifth set rules used to be absolutely wild, and they still vary by tournament. This is where tennis gets properly mental.</p> <p>For decades, some Grand Slams had no tiebreak in the fifth set. Players had to keep going until someone won by two games. No limit.</p> <p>The most famous example: <strong>Isner vs Mahut</strong> at Wimbledon 2010. The final set finished 70-68. The match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes spread over three days. Both players probably needed therapy afterwards.</p> <p>After several marathon matches, tournaments started changing the rules.</p> <p><strong>Current fifth set rules (as of 2025):</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Australian Open:</strong> Tiebreak at 6-6 in the fifth set (first to 10 points)</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>French Open:</strong> No tiebreak – you must win by two games (old school)</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Wimbledon:</strong> Tiebreak at 12-12 in the fifth set (first to 7 points)</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>US Open:</strong> Tiebreak at 6-6 in the fifth set (first to 7 points)</p> </li> </ul> <p>These rules changed recently because matches were getting ridiculous. Players were getting injured, matches were taking forever, and broadcasters were having nightmares trying to schedule.</p> <p>If you're watching a fifth set at the French Open, cancel your plans. Could be there a while.</p> <h2>Tennis Tiebreak Rules</h2> <p>Remember how I said at 6-6 in a set, something special happens? Welcome to the tiebreak.</p> <h3>When Does a Tiebreak Happen?</h3> <p>A tiebreak kicks in when a set reaches <strong>6 games all</strong> (6-6). It prevents sets from going on forever.</p> <p>Well, usually. Exception: French Open and some fifth sets, as we just covered.</p> <p>The tiebreak is sudden death time. First to seven points wins.</p> <p>The tiebreak winner wins the set 7-6. The final score is shown with the tiebreak points in brackets: "7-6 (7-4)" for example.</p> <p>That (7-4) tells you it went to a tiebreak and shows the score within it. The player who won it took the tiebreak 7 points to 4.</p> <h3>How to Win a Tiebreak</h3> <p>First to <strong>seven points</strong> wins the tiebreak. But you need to win by <strong>two clear points</strong>.</p> <p>Seeing a pattern here? Tennis is obsessed with winning by two.</p> <p>So the tiebreak could finish 7-5, 8-6, 9-7, and so on. If it reaches 6-6, play continues until someone wins by two points.</p> <p><strong>Serving in tiebreaks:</strong></p> <p>This confuses people, so pay attention.</p> <p>Player A serves the first point (just one serve). Then Player B serves the next TWO points. Then they alternate serving two points each for the rest of the tiebreak. Players change ends every six points total.</p> <p>The serving pattern is weird, but it keeps things fair so neither player has a big serving advantage.</p> <p><strong>Scoring</strong>:</p> <p>Finally, tennis uses normal numbers. Points in a tiebreak are called 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Not 15-30-40. Just regular counting. Amazing.</p> <p>The score is announced like "5-3" or "6-all."</p> <p><strong>Example:</strong></p> <p>Imagine you've been watching a set for an hour. It's 6-6. Now it comes down to a tiebreak. Basically a mini-match to decide who wins the set.</p> <p>The pressure is absolutely enormous. One bad shot can cost you the set after you've been battling for 60 minutes. It's brutal.</p> <p><strong>Super Tiebreaks:</strong></p> <p>In some tournaments, the deciding set uses a super tiebreak – first to 10 points instead of 7. You still need to win by 2.</p> <p>It's like a regular tiebreak but with even more pressure. These are fantastic to watch if you enjoy stress.</p> <p>Tiebreaks are gold for betting on total games, too. A set ending 7-6 versus 6-4 makes a significant difference to the game count.</p> <h2>Why Is Tennis Scoring So Weird? (15-30-40 Explained)</h2> <p>Right, you've been wondering this the whole time. Why does tennis use 15, 30, 40 instead of just counting 1, 2, 3, 4 like a normal sport?</p> <p>Honest answer: nobody knows for certain. But here are the main theories.</p> <p><strong>Theory 1: The Clock Face</strong></p> <p>Medieval tennis (called "jeu de paume" or "real tennis") allegedly tracked scores on a clock face. Each point was a quarter: 15, 30, 45.</p> <p>Then 45 got shortened to 40, possibly because "quarante" (40 in French) was easier to say quickly than "quarante-cinq" (45).</p> <p>Makes sense in theory. Still doesn't explain why they didn't just use 1, 2, 3, 4 in the first place, but here we are.</p> <p><strong>Theory 2: Gambling Origins</strong></p> <p>Medieval tennis was absolutely rife with gambling. Some historians reckon the scoring was based on 60 because it was easily divisible for betting purposes (15, 30, 45).</p> <p>Tennis has always been a bit extra, to be fair.</p> <p>Theory 3: Court Measurements</p> <p>This one's pure speculation, but some people think the points were based on moving forward on the court in increments measured in feet.</p> <p>Honestly, it's probably just tradition at this point. Tennis loves tradition more than almost any sport. Try suggesting they change Wimbledon's dress code and watch what happens.</p> <p><strong>The Modern Take:</strong></p> <p>The weird scoring makes tennis distinctive. Imagine if commentators announced "3-2" instead of "40-30." The sport would lose all its character.</p> <p>It's like cricket. Nobody outside a handful of countries understands it, but that's part of the charm.</p> <p>Look, tennis scoring is bonkers. We've established that. But once you get it, you feel like you're in on a secret. Plus it makes you sound sophisticated when you casually say "advantage Alcaraz" like you know exactly what's happening.</p> <h2>Serve, Set, Match</h2> <p>There you have it – tennis scoring explained without making you want to throw a racket at the TV.</p> <p>Look, it's weird. There's no getting around that. But tennis scoring is one of those things that seems absolutely mental until suddenly it clicks. Once you've watched a few matches, it becomes second nature.</p> <p>You'll find yourself saying "deuce" and "advantage" like you've been watching tennis your whole life. You'll understand why the crowd gasps when someone saves three break points. You'll know exactly how much pressure is riding on a tiebreak at 6-6 in a deciding set.</p> <p>Next time someone asks you what "love" means or why tennis uses 15-30-40, you can explain it. Maybe even throw in some history about medieval French tennis and gambling. Proper sophisticated stuff.</p> <p>Now go watch a match and practice your new knowledge. Start with a tiebreak – they're absolute theatre. The Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open – all brilliant viewing once you know what's happening with the scoring.</p> <p>And if you're into betting on tennis, understanding the scoring system inside and out is crucial. Knowing when break points happen, how tiebreaks work, and when fifth set rules kick in can completely change your strategy.</p> <p>Right, you're sorted. Enjoy the tennis.</p> <h2>FAQs About Tennis Scoring</h2> <p><strong>Can a tennis match end in a tie?</strong></p> <p>Nope. Someone always wins. Even if the sets are split 2-2 in a best-of-five match, there's a fifth set to decide it. Tennis doesn't do draws. It's win or go home.</p> <p><strong>Why do they say "love" and not "zero"?</strong></p> <p>Possibly from the French "l'oeuf" (egg), because zero looks like an egg. Or from playing "for love" (for nothing). Either way, it sounds classier than "big fat zero."</p> <p><strong>What's the longest tennis match ever?</strong></p> <p>Isner vs Mahut at Wimbledon 2010. 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days. The final set finished 70-68. Both players probably needed a lie-down for a week.</p> <p><strong>Do you have to win by two games in every set?</strong></p> <p>Yes, except when a tiebreak kicks in. At 6-6, the tiebreak decides it, so the set ends 7-6. Exception: French Open fifth set, where there's no tiebreak and you must keep playing until someone wins by two.</p> <p><strong>What happens if it rains during a match?</strong></p> <p>Play stops immediately. They cover the courts with massive tarps. When the rain clears, players resume exactly where they left off – same score, same server, everything.</p> <p>Unless it's Wimbledon, where they have a strict curfew. Then you might resume the next day.</p> <p><strong>Why is the server's score announced first?</strong></p> <p>It's just a convention. The server's score always comes first in tennis. So if you hear "30-love," the server has 30 points and the opponent has zero.</p> <p><strong>Can you score points in tennis without serving?</strong></p> <p>Absolutely. The returner can win points and games just like the server. In fact, breaking serve (winning the server's game) is crucial for winning matches. Some players are actually better at returning than serving.</p> <p><strong>How do I know if it's match point?</strong></p> <p>If winning the next point would win the entire match, it's match point. This could happen in the second set (if you're up 1-0 in sets) or in the third/fifth set.</p> <p>Example: you're up 6-4, 5-4, 40-30. Win this point = match over.</p> <p>TV graphics usually scream "MATCH POINT" in massive letters, so you can't miss it. The crowd goes mental, too.</p> <p><strong>What's a "golden set"?</strong></p> <p>Winning a set without losing a single point. The score would be 6-0, with every game won 40-love. It's basically impossible at the professional level, but it has happened in lower-tier matches. Absolute humiliation for the loser.</p> <p><strong>What's a "bagel" in tennis?</strong></p> <p>Winning a set 6-0. Completely shutting out your opponent. It's called a bagel because zero looks like a bagel (or a doughnut, depending where you're from).</p> <p>Getting bageled is pretty embarrassing at professional level.</p>