Scoring games, sets and matches

Rule 5(a) — A standard game

Always call the server's score first. With no points the score is love; the next points are called 15, 30 and 40. Winning the next point wins the game unless both players or teams have reached 3 points, which is deuce.

After deuce, the winner of the next point has advantage. Winning the following point wins the game; losing it returns the score to deuce. To win from deuce, a player or team must win 2 consecutive points.

Rule 5(b) — A tie-break game

Tie-break points are counted 0, 1, 2, 3 and onwards. The first player or team to reach 7 points wins the game and set only if ahead by at least 2 points. Otherwise continue until that margin is reached.

• The player next due to serve serves the 1st point. The opponent serves the next 2 points; in doubles this is the next player due to serve on the opposing team.
• Thereafter each player or team serves 2 consecutive points in alternation. Doubles players keep the same within-team service rotation used in that set.
• The player or team who served 1st in the tie-break receives in the 1st game of the next set.

Rule 6 — Scoring a set

The event must announce beforehand whether it uses advantage sets or tie-break sets. If tie-break sets are used, it must also announce whether the final set uses a tie-break or advantage format.

• Advantage set: the first player or team to win 6 games wins only with a lead of at least 2 games. Continue beyond that score until the margin is achieved.
• Tie-break set: the first player or team to win 6 games wins with a lead of at least 2 games. At 6 games each, play a tie-break game.

Rule 7 — Scoring a match

A match may be best of 3 sets, requiring 2 sets to win, or best of 5 sets, requiring 3 sets to win. Appendix VI contains separately approved alternative procedures and scoring methods; those alternatives are distinct from the standard formats described here.