Game-Set-Match

Tennis may be a popular game, but nobody can deny that it has one of the most bizarre scoring systems. Tennis players score on games, sets and match, in that order. The match is won when either player wins the most number of sets. A players wins a set when one wins most number of games in a set. Finally, a game is won when a players wins the most number of points in that game.

The game

To start a game of tennis, either one of the players has to serve first. To win a game a player needs to win a minimum of four points in the game. The game starts off with both the players each having a score of 0-0 or “Love”, ‘the word ‘love’ denoting the score 0. The next corresponding scores are in the order of 15, 30, 40 and Game Point. The scoring system is such, that the serving player’s score is always mentioned first. Like, a score of 40-30 implies that the serving player is at point 40 and his opponent at 30. If the serving player wins another point, then he gets to win the game, with the score at Game-30. However, if his opponent wins the next point, then both the scores are tied at 40-40 and this is called a “Deuce”. In such cases, either of the players has to beat the other by two consecutive points to win the game. If any of the players wins the next point, he is said to be at “Advantage”. If the player at “Advantage” also wins the next corresponding point he wins the game, else the scoreline goes back to being “Deuce”. This goes on, till a player defeats his opponent from the “Advantage” position. A “Break point” refers to the final point needed for a non-serving player to win a game.
Trivia: It is said that tennis scoring was developed from the clock system as 15-30-45-60 symbolized an hour. Later, the 45 was shortened to 40, for reasons unknown.

The set A set in tennis, generally means a set of minimum six games. To win a set, a player needs to win at least six games, with a difference of minimum two games with his opponent, like 6-2 or 6-4. The rule is changed if the set scoreline becomes 5-5. In this case, as a player can only win the set when leading by two or more games, hence if the score reads 6-5, play continues until a final score such as 7-5 or 8-6 (and so on) is achieved by any one of the players. In some cases, a tie breaker is held if the scoreline becomes 6-6, wherein a player will win, if he scores a minimum of 7 points with a difference of 2.
Trivia: The Australian Open, the French Open and the Wimbledon allow tie breakers in all sets, except for the fifth deciding set; the US Open uses the tie breaker in the last set as well.

The Match

There are other scoring rules, which naturally stems from these basic ones. So the next time Federer serves for a match, you would know exactly why.