How to Keep Score in Tennis: Love, Deuce, Ad

Of all the racquet sports, tennis has the most unusual scoring system. Instead of counting points sequentially (1, 2, 3, 4), tennis uses a 15-30-40 sequence, calls zero "love," and refers to a tie as "deuce."

For a beginner stepping onto the court for the first time, this scoring system can feel like learning a foreign language. It is easy to lose track of who is serving, which side of the court you should stand on, and how many points you need to win. Knowing how to keep score in tennis is a prerequisite for tournament and recreational play alike.

In this guide, I will break down the rules of tennis scoring, show you how to call deuce and advantages, and share tips to call the score out loud.

---

1. Tennis Set & Tiebreak Scoring Structures (Statics)

To understand match structures, compare the technical parameters (statics) of games, sets, and tiebreak configurations under official regulations:

Match Phase	Winning Requirement	Margins & Rotations	Scoring System
The Game	4 points won	Must win by 2 points	0 (Love), 15, 30, 40, Game
The Set	6 games won	Must lead by 2 games	Standard set (e.g. 6-4, 7-5)
The Match	Best of 3 sets (or 5 sets)	First to 2 sets (or 3 sets)	Set score (e.g. 2-1 in sets)
7-Point Tiebreak	7 points won (Played at 6-6)	Must win by 2 points (e.g. 8-6)	Numeric points (1, 2, 3...)
Tiebreak Service	1st point served by Player A	Rotates every 2 points thereafter	Player A (1), Player B (2, 3), Player A (4, 5)
Court End Change	Every odd game sum (e.g. 1, 3, 5)	Switch ends during 90-sec rest	Neutralizes sun and wind advantages
Tiebreak Court Switch	Every 6 cumulative points	Switch ends immediately without rest	Server continues from opposite side
Deciding Tiebreak	10 points won (At 6-6 in final set)	Must win by 2 points (e.g. 10-8)	Played at all four Grand Slams

---

2. Point Progression & Historic Origins

In tennis, points do not count as single digits. Love, fifteen, thirty, forty, and game are the called points:

• 0 Points (Love): Zero points. The term is widely believed to originate from the French word for egg, l'oeuf, because an egg looks like a zero. In sports, an egg-shape has historically represented zero (similar to a "duck" in cricket).
• 1 Point (15): Fifteen. Derived from medieval tracking where clock faces were placed at each end of the court. The minute hand was rotated 15 minutes per point.
• 2 Points (30): Thirty. The second point moved the clock hand to the half-hour mark.
• 3 Points (40): Forty. Originally, the third point was 45. However, because calling "forty-five" was too long, players shortened it to "forty" for easier calling during fast-paced play.
• 4 Points (Game): The final point moved the clock hand to 60, completing the game circuit.

---

3. Deuce, Ad-In, and Ad-Out: The Two-Point Rule

If a game is close and both players win three points, the score is 40-40. In tennis, you cannot win a game by a single point margin; you must win by two points. Under International Tennis Federation (ITF) Rule 5 (Score in a Game):

[!IMPORTANT] "If both players/teams have won three points, the score is called 'Deuce'. The next point won is called 'Advantage' for that player/team. If the same player/team wins the next point, they win the game. If the opposing player/team wins the point, the score returns to 'Deuce'. A player/team must win two consecutive points from deuce to win the game."

This creates the advantage scoring loops:

• Ad-In (Advantage In): The server has won the deuce point. They require one more point to claim the game.
• Ad-Out (Advantage Out): The receiver has won the deuce point. They require one more point to break the server's service game.
• Deuce (French deux): Means "two" points are needed to win.

---

4. Sets, Tiebreaks, and Matches: The Big Picture

Winning games is just the first step. To win a tennis match, you must win sets:

Winning a Set

A set is won by the first player to win six games. However, you must win by a margin of two games (e.g., 6-4). If the score reaches 5-5, play continues to 7 (e.g., 7-5). If the set reaches a 6-6 tie, a tiebreak game is played to decide the set winner (7-6).

Tiebreak Rules (ITF Rule 6)

During a tiebreak, the points are counted numerically (1, 2, 3, etc.). The first player to reach 7 points leading by 2 wins the tiebreak and the set:

• Service Rotation: Player A serves the first point from the deuce court. Player B serves the next two points (starting from the ad court, then deuce). Player A serves the next two points, and so on.
• End Changes: Players change ends of the court every 6 points (e.g. when the score sum is 4-2, 6-6, etc.) to ensure wind and sun conditions are balanced equally.

---

5. How to Call the Score on Court

When playing a casual match, follow these etiquettes:

1. Server Calls: The server is responsible for calling the score out loud before starting every serve.
2. Server Score First: Always call the server's score first. If you are serving and have 15, and your opponent has 30, call "15-30" (fifteen-thirty).
3. Ties are 'All': If the score is tied at 15-15 or 30-30, call it "15-All" or "30-All." Do not call 40-40 "40-All"—that is always called "Deuce."

---

6. Conclusion

While the terms "love" and "deuce" sound complex, tennis scoring is simple once you run through it a few times. Think of a match as a ladder: win points to climb to a game, win games to climb to a set, and win sets to claim the match. Call the score clearly before every serve, respect the two-point margin rule, and enjoy your play.