GAME, SET AND MATCH

Tennis has a unique scoring system. A player can be on the brink of defeat yet, in a few moments, be on the verge of victory. The scoring system is dynamic, and a close match will have players keenly focused and spectators on the edges of their seats. Any enthusiastic player or fan will agree that a close competitive match is both exciting and intense.

The objectives when playing a tennis match are :
1. Win points to win a game
2. Win games to win a set
3. Win sets to win a match.


What is a point ?

• When a player serves, the first player to fail to make legal return loses the point, and the other player wins the point.
• Every point in competitive play is started with the serve.
• Every point is either won or lost. There are several ways of winning points, the most common ones being by your opponent netting the ball, hitting outside the lines, or being unable to get the ball back over the net before the second bounce.

What is a game ?

• A game is a series of points. Players start each game at love.
• Love = 0; 1 points = 15; 2 points = 30; 3 points = 40; 4 points = game.
• When each player has three points (40-all), the score is deuce. Players need two consecutive points from deuce to win the game. Winning the point gives the advantage; if followed by a second winning point, the game is won, but if followed by a losing point the score returns to deuce again.
  

What is a set ?

• A set is a series of games. A player must win six games ( being at least two games ahead) to win the set.
• If the score is five games all, two consecutives games are needed to win the set. At six games all, a tie-breaker is played to decide the set.
• The player whose turn it was to serve in the set serves the first point of the tie-break. Their opponent serves the next two points and after that the serve rotates after every two further points. Players change ends after every six points.
• A tie-breaker is won when a player wins seven points by a margin of two-points or more. When the score is six-all, play continues until a player has a two-point lead, in which case the set is won by seven games to six.

What is a match of Tennis

• A match is the best of three sets. A player can win two sets to love or two sets to one. Men's singles matches may go to five sets, the winner being the first to win three sets.