How to Keep Score in Tennis
It's Actually Simple, the Rules Just Complicate it
Understanding how tennis is scored is difficult due to complex rules, but the ideas are actually simple.
Tennis is a game that has maintained steady popularity since its introduction. The main advantage of tennis is that it is not physically demanding and can be played throughout a good portion of a person's life. The only sport with similar popularity that can make the same claim is golf. Because many people find golf boring, racket sports like tennis are a more exciting option. American author Mark Twain would have agreed. He called golf the unnecessary interruption of a good walk.
Once the racket, balls, a place to play, and preferably a partner have been gathered, the neophyte tennis player is ready to begin his first game. Newcomers or outsiders to the sport often do not understand how score is kept in tennis. Understanding the scoring rules takes a little more effort than less complex games, where a simple record of accumulated points is kept. Once a new player understands how score is kept, it is easier to understand what is going on in matches.
The First Four Points
- The person who is serves in a tennis match announces their score first.
- The first point is 15 and if either player has zero points, there score is said to be love. So if it is a 1-0 score in other games. If the person serving had the first point, he would announce the score as 15-love.
- The points then progress to 15
- The second point is 30
- The third point is 40
- The Final point is game.
Gaining the Advantage
The person with a lead of two points wins the game after the fourth point is scored. If the game is tied, after the third point, the game is said to be deuce. If one opponent gains the advantage, he is said to have the ad. The opponent of the person with the advantage can either catch up or lose at this point.
Tennis Matches
Tennis matches can be played in six sets, with sets usually consisting of six games. Much like individual games must have a two point lead, the person who wins the set must win by a majority of two games or more.
How to score a tennis game is a little more complicated than keeping score in other sports. It may be necessary for people not well-versed in the aspects of the game to convert the scores into more normal formats preferred by other games. For those wishing to get a little exercise rather than engage in competition the score may not be as important as playing the game itself.
Sources
“How to keep score in Tennis.”
“How to Score the Game of Tenns.”
