Tennis Tiebreak Rules: Set Tiebreak and Match (Super) Tiebreak
A tiebreak is played when a set reaches 6–6. Points are counted 0, 1, 2, 3, and the first player to seven points with a two-point lead wins the tiebreak and the set, which is recorded as 7–6. The player due to serve serves one point, then the opponent serves two, and the serve keeps changing every two points. Players change ends after every six points. A match tiebreak (or super tiebreak) works the same way but goes to 10 points, and replaces the deciding set at one set all.
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026.
The standard 7-point tiebreak
Rule 5b of the ITF Rules of Tennis defines the tiebreak game. It is played in a tiebreak set when the score reaches six games all. The points are called zero, 1, 2, 3 and so on, not 15, 30, 40.
The first player or team to win seven points wins the tiebreak, the game and the set, provided they are two points ahead. At 6–6 in the tiebreak it simply continues until someone leads by two, so 8–6, 10–8 or even 16–14 are possible.
Who serves in a tiebreak
The player whose turn it is to serve takes the first point, serving from the right (deuce) court. The opponent then serves points 2 and 3, starting from the left. After that, each player serves two consecutive points, always alternating left and right, until the tiebreak ends.
| Point | Server | Serves from | After this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Right | |
| 2 | B | Left | |
| 3 | B | Right | |
| 4 | A | Left | |
| 5 | A | Right | |
| 6 | B | Left | Change ends |
| 7 | B | Right | |
| 8 | A | Left | |
| 9 | A | Right | |
| 10 | B | Left | |
| 11 | B | Right | |
| 12 | A | Left | Change ends |
A quick check for the side: if the total number of points already played is even, serve from the right; if it is odd, serve from the left.
Tiebreak serve and ends table
Player 1 serves point 1 from the deuce court, then Player 2 serves points 2 and 3. Ends change after every six points.
| Point | Server | Serves from |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Player 1 | Deuce court (right) |
| 2 | Player 2 | Ad court (left) |
| 3 | Player 2 | Deuce court (right) |
| 4 | Player 1 | Ad court (left) |
| 5 | Player 1 | Deuce court (right) |
| 6 | Player 2 | Ad court (left) |
| Change ends | ||
| 7 | Player 2 | Deuce court (right) |
| 8 | Player 1 | Ad court (left) |
| 9 | Player 1 | Deuce court (right) |
| 10 | Player 2 | Ad court (left) |
| 11 | Player 2 | Deuce court (right) |
| 12 | Player 1 | Ad court (left) |
| Change ends | ||
| 13 | Player 1 | Deuce court (right) |
| 14 | Player 2 | Ad court (left) |
Level at 6–6? Play goes on with the same pattern until one side leads by two.
After the tiebreak
Player 2 serves the first game of the next set: the player who served first in the tiebreak receives. Change ends before that game.
When to change ends
In a tiebreak the players change ends after every six points (6, 12, 18 …), without the usual changeover rest. When the tiebreak is over, the players change ends once more before the next set, because the tiebreak counts as the 13th game of the set, an odd game.
Appendix VI of the ITF rules allows an alternative used in some team and doubles events (sometimes called the Coman tiebreak): change ends after the first point and then after every four points. The event must announce it in advance.
Who serves first in the next set?
The player or team that served first in the tiebreak receives in the first game of the next set. This is the rule players most often get wrong, because it looks as if the order should simply continue. If you have lost track, the who serves next calculator works it out.
Tiebreaks in doubles
In doubles the same pattern applies, and the rotation inside each team continues from the set. The player due to serve takes point 1; the opponent due to serve next takes points 2 and 3; the partner of the first server takes points 4 and 5; the other opponent takes points 6 and 7; and so on.
Receivers keep the sides they have been receiving from during the set: the player who receives in the right court stays there for the whole tiebreak.
| Points | Server |
|---|---|
| 1 | A1 |
| 2–3 | B1 |
| 4–5 | A2 |
| 6–7 | B2 (change ends after point 6) |
| 8–9 | A1 |
| 10–11 | B1 |
| 12–13 | A2 (change ends after point 12) |
The 10-point match tiebreak (super tiebreak)
A match tiebreak replaces the final set. When the score is one set all (or two sets all in a best-of-five match), one tiebreak game decides the match. In the 10-point version the first player or team to 10 points with a two-point lead wins the match tiebreak and the match. Appendix VI of the ITF rules also allows a 7-point match tiebreak, but 10 points is by far the most common.
Serving and change of ends work exactly as in a set tiebreak. The ITF notes add four details:
- The original order of service continues from the previous set.
- In doubles, each team may change who serves and who receives first, as at the start of any set.
- There is a 120-second set break before it starts.
- Balls are not changed before the match tiebreak, even if a change is due.
“Super tiebreak”, “match tiebreak”, “10-point tiebreak” and “champions tiebreak” all describe the same thing in everyday use. Check whether your event means one that replaces the third set (most leagues) or one played at 6–6 in the final set (the Grand Slams).
Final-set tiebreaks at the Grand Slams
Since 2022, all four Grand Slams have used a 10-point tiebreak at 6–6 in the final set, replacing the different endings each used before (the Grand Slam Board announced the joint decision in March 2022). This is the ITF's “final set tie-break (10 points)” alternative: the full set is played, and the 10-point tiebreak only starts if it reaches six games all.
How to write a tiebreak score
A set won in a tiebreak is written 7–6. By convention the loser's tiebreak points go in brackets (or as a small raised number): 7–6(5) means the tiebreak finished 7–5; 7–6(10) means it finished 12–10.
Leagues record match tiebreaks in different ways. Common forms are 6–4 3–6 [10–8] or 6–4 3–6 1–0 (10–8). Use whatever your league's results sheet asks for, and always include the points.
| Written | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 7–6(4) | Set won 7–6; tiebreak won 7–4 |
| 6–7(8) | Set lost 6–7; tiebreak lost 8–10 |
| 6–3 4–6 [10–7] | Split sets, match tiebreak won 10–7 |
| 6–3 4–6 1–0 (12–10) | The same, written as a third “set” of 1–0 |
Common tiebreak mistakes
- Serving two points first. The first server serves only one point.
- Serving from the wrong side. Point 1 is always from the right; then sides alternate every point.
- Forgetting the two-point lead. 7–6 in a tiebreak is not over.
- Wrong server in the next set. The first server of the tiebreak receives first in the next set.
- Treating a match tiebreak as a 7-point one. Check the format before the match: league match tiebreaks almost always go to 10.
Under ITF Rule 27, if someone serves out of turn in a tiebreak and it is noticed after an even number of points, the order is corrected at once; after an odd number, the new order stays. Points already played always stand.
Never argue about a tiebreak score again
In the Racketlovers app, when a set reaches 6–6 the app asks for the tiebreak score, and a match tiebreak is only accepted if someone reached 10 points with a two-point lead, so nobody records 10–9 by mistake. Your opponent confirms each score before it goes live, and family and friends follow the match in the free app from the link you share.
Playing without the app? Our free tennis scoreboard counts tiebreaks and match tiebreaks point by point in the browser.
Best of 3 sets
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Frequently asked questions
How many points is a tennis tiebreak?
A set tiebreak is first to 7 points with a two-point lead. A match tiebreak, played instead of a deciding set, is usually first to 10 points with a two-point lead.
Who serves first in a tiebreak?
The player whose turn it is to serve in the 13th game. They serve one point from the right; then the opponent serves two, and the serve changes every two points.
Who serves first after a tiebreak?
The player who received first in the tiebreak serves the first game of the next set. In other words, the first server of the tiebreak becomes the receiver.
When do you switch sides in a tiebreak?
After every six points: at 6, 12, 18 points and so on. Some events use the alternative of changing after the first point and then every four points.
What is a super tiebreak in tennis?
Another name for the 10-point match tiebreak. At one set all it replaces the third set: first to 10 points, won by two.
Is a match tiebreak counted as a set?
It decides the match in place of the final set, so the winner wins the match. On results sheets it is often written as [10–8] or as a third set of 1–0 with the points in brackets.
Can a tiebreak go past 7 points?
Yes. A tiebreak must be won by two points, so it continues past 6–6 until one player leads by two, for example 9–7 or 13–11.
How do you write a tiebreak score?
Write the set as 7–6 and put the loser's tiebreak points in brackets: 7–6(5) means the tiebreak ended 7–5.
How many points is a tiebreak in tennis?
A set tiebreak is first to 7 points and a match tiebreak is first to 10 points. Both must be won by two points, so they can go on past 7 or 10.
Is a super tiebreak the same as a match tiebreak?
Yes. Both names mean the 10-point tiebreak that replaces a deciding set.
Does padel use the same tiebreak?
Yes. Padel plays a 7-point tiebreak at 6–6 with the same serving order and changes of ends, and many padel events use a 10-point super tie-break instead of a third set.