01
Points into games
A game is won by reaching four points with a two-point lead, or by winning a deciding point at deuce depending on the rules in use.
AI overview · In short
A calm introduction to sets, games, surfaces, and tournaments. Tennis can move quickly. Start with scoring, event formats, surface differences, and retirement rules before exploring any live match information.
Sports guide
Tennis scoring, made simple.
Tennis can move quickly. Start with scoring, the four Grand Slams, surface differences, and retirement rules before you follow any live match.
Information only · No guaranteed outcome · Adults 18+
Scoring basics
How a score builds from a single point
Three layers stack on top of each other. Once you know the count at each level, a scoreboard stops being confusing.
02
Games into sets
A set is typically won at six games with a two-game lead, with a tiebreak used to settle a set that reaches six games each.
03
Sets into a match
Men's Grand Slam singles is best of five sets; most other tour matches are best of three, so the finish line moves depending on the event.
The four majors
Same sport, four very different events
Surface and season shape each Grand Slam differently, and both the ATP and WTA tours contest all four.
Australian Open
Played on hard courts in January, opening the season in the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer.
Roland Garros
Contested on clay in Paris, favouring longer rallies and demanding a different physical approach from the other Slams.
Wimbledon
The grass-court major, historically the fastest surface of the four, where matches can turn on serve and quick points.
US Open
A hard-court event closing the season, played at night sessions that add their own conditions to the mix.
Following a live match
What happens if a player retires
Injuries and illness sometimes end a match early. How that is scored and settled depends on the rules of the specific event, so it is worth checking before you rely on any live information.
Why pairings appear late
Who plays whom comes from the tournament draw and changes round by round, so only the round and date are usually fixed until the previous round finishes.
Answers
Questions about following tennis
Scoring, surfaces, retirements, and how the draw decides pairings.
Points build into games, games into sets, and sets into the match. Men's Grand Slam singles are best of five sets and most other matches are best of three.
Grass is fast, clay is slow and hard courts sit between. The same player can look very different across them.
Settlement depends on the stated retirement rule, so read it before you act on any live information.
Pairings come from the draw and change round by round, so only the round and date are fixed in advance.
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