How does tennis scoring progress within a game?

Points run 0, 15, 30, 40, then game. If both players reach 40 the score is deuce; a player must then win two points in a row — first advantage, then the game — to win it.

When is a tiebreak played?

A standard tiebreak is played when a set reaches six games all. The first player to seven points wins the tiebreak and the set 7-6, but they must lead by at least two points.

How many games are needed to win a set?

A player wins a set by reaching six games with a two-game lead, for example 6-4 or 6-3. At 5-5 play continues to 7-5, and at 6-6 a tiebreak decides the set.

What is the difference between best-of-3 and best-of-5?

Best-of-3 means the first player to win two sets wins the match, used in most professional matches and all women's events. Best-of-5 requires three sets and is used in men's Grand Slam matches.

Does this tool handle no-ad scoring?

This calculator uses traditional advantage scoring with deuce. No-ad (sudden-death deuce) is a separate format used in some doubles and college play and is not applied here.

Tennis Match Score Calculator

Email me this result

Get this tool's output sent to your inbox, plus one useful tool a week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Tennis scoring confuses newcomers because it nests three counters — points, games, and sets — each with its own rules. This calculator applies the official ATP and WTA scoring system so you can click through a match and see the correct score at every level without memorising the quirks of deuce and tiebreaks.

How it works

Each game is won by the first player to four points (counted 15, 30, 40, game) with a two-point margin. Equal scores of 40-40 trigger deuce:

deuce        -> next point = advantage
advantage    -> same player wins -> game
advantage    -> other player wins -> back to deuce

A set is the first to six games with a two-game lead. At six games all a tiebreak is played: points are counted plainly (1, 2, 3…) and the first to seven, leading by two, takes the set 7-6. The match ends when a player wins the required number of sets — two in best-of-3, three in best-of-5.

Example and tips

Suppose a game reaches 40-40. Player A wins a point to go to advantage, then loses the next, returning to deuce. A then wins two straight points to take the game. Tap the point buttons in that order and the display walks through deuce, Ad, deuce, Ad, and finally the game increment. Use the reset button between matches; the tool never assumes a winner until the margin and set-count rules are both satisfied.