Tennis Score Terms and What They Mean
Tennis has its own words for the score. Love means zero, all means a tie (15-all), and deuce is 40–40. Advantage (ad-in for the server, ad-out for the receiver) is the point after deuce. Game point, break point, set point and match point each mean one more point would win that game, set or match. In results, 7–6(5) means a set won in a tiebreak that ended 7–5, [10–8] is a match tiebreak, ret. means a player retired and w/o is a walkover.
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026.
Point and game terms
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Love | Zero | 15–love: the server has one point, the receiver none |
| 15, 30, 40 | One, two and three points | 30–15 |
| All | A tied score below 40 | 15-all, 30-all; love-all at 0–0 |
| Deuce | 40–40 (both on three points or more and level) | Deuce after 40–30 is pulled back |
| Advantage / ad-in | The server has won the point after deuce | Ad-in: the server can win the game on the next point |
| Ad-out | The receiver has won the point after deuce | A break point |
| Game | Four points with a two-point lead (standard scoring) | Game, Lee |
| Love game | A game won without the opponent scoring | 40–love, then game |
| Deciding point | One point at deuce decides the game (No-Ad) | Padel calls it the golden point |
Game point, break point, set point, match point
- Game point: the server needs one more point to win the game (40–30, ad-in).
- Break point: the receiver needs one more point to win the server's game (30–40, ad-out). Winning it is a break of serve; winning your own service game is a hold.
- Set point: one more point wins the set.
- Match point: one more point wins the match.
- Double break point: 15–40, two chances to break.
- Mini-break: in a tiebreak, winning a point on the opponent's serve.
Set and match terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Set | Six games with a two-game lead (or 7–6 after a tiebreak) |
| Tiebreak | The game played at 6–6, first to 7 points by two |
| Match tiebreak / super tiebreak | A 10-point tiebreak that replaces the final set |
| Bagel | A set won 6–0 |
| Breadstick | A set won 6–1 |
| Straight sets | Winning without dropping a set (2–0 or 3–0) |
| Best of three / five | The first to win two / three sets wins the match |
How to read a tennis result
A result lists the winner's games first in every set. So 6–4 3–6 7–6(5) means the winner took the first set 6–4, lost the second 3–6, and won the third in a tiebreak that ended 7–5. The number in brackets is always the loser's tiebreak points.
| You see | It means |
|---|---|
| 6–4 6–2 | Won in straight sets |
| 7–6(5) | Set won in a tiebreak, 7 points to 5 |
| 7–6(10) | Tiebreak won 12–10 |
| 6–3 4–6 [10–8] | Split sets, then a match tiebreak won 10–8 |
| 6–3 2–1 ret. | The opponent retired (stopped, usually injured) at 6–3 2–1 |
| w/o | Walkover: the opponent didn't play, so the match was awarded |
| def. | Defeated; sometimes also means the opponent was defaulted (disqualified) |
Serving words you will hear
- Ace: a good serve the receiver doesn't touch.
- Fault / double fault: a missed serve / two missed serves in a row, losing the point.
- Let: a serve that clips the net and lands in; it is replayed.
- Deuce court / ad court: the right and left halves of the court, named after the scores served from them.
- Foot fault: a fault for touching the baseline or crossing the center mark or sideline while serving.
What is a winning score in tennis?
A game is won with at least four points and a two-point lead. A set is won 6–0 to 6–4, 7–5, or 7–6 after a tiebreak (longer only in advantage sets). A match is won by taking two sets out of three, or three out of five. For the full explanation, see how tennis scoring works.
Turn your score into a result card
When a match scored in the Racketlovers app ends, the app can make an Instagram result card with the final score. During the match, your opponent confirms the games at each changeover and anyone you share the link with follows live in the free app.
Frequently asked questions
What does love mean in tennis?
Zero. 15–love means one point to nothing, and a love game is one the winner took without losing a point.
What does deuce mean in tennis?
The score is 40–40. From deuce a player must win two points in a row, unless the match uses No-Ad scoring, where one deciding point is played.
What does ad-in and ad-out mean?
After deuce, ad-in means the server won the next point; ad-out means the receiver did. Ad-out is a break point.
What is a tie score in tennis called?
Equal scores below 40 are called “all” (15-all, 30-all). At 40–40 the score is deuce.
What does 7–6(5) mean in tennis?
The set was won 7–6 in a tiebreak, and the loser scored 5 points in that tiebreak, so it ended 7–5.
What does ret. mean in a tennis score?
Retired: the opponent stopped playing during the match, usually because of injury, and the winner advances with the score at that moment.
What is a bagel in tennis?
A set won 6–0. A 6–1 set is sometimes called a breadstick.