Tennis Scoring Terminology - Game, Set, Match

by Meghan
(Layton,Ut)

What are Match set and Game and what is the difference between the two?

Answer:

Hi Meghan,

Actually, there are three things you mentioned there. Match, set, and games are all different :) Yea it's confusing!

Game: is first to 4 points. However, instead of saying (1, 2, 3, 4)... players say (15, 30, 40, Game).

So if it were 2 points all, it would be 30-30.

If it is 3 points all it is called deuce, and a player will have to win by two points.

Set: Is first to six games. However, you also need to win a set by two clear games.

So if it is 5-5 it would be first to 7.

If both players win one game each from 5-5 it becomes 6-6 and a Tie Break is played.

The winner of the tie break wins the set.

(There are a couple of exceptions to this such as in a Grand Slam fith set! Mahut and Isner played a three day match because no tie breaks were allowed!)

Match: There are two sets to a match. If each player gets one set then a third and final set is played.

In the four biggest tournaments in the world, known as the Grand Slams, men are required to play best of 5 sets.

I hope I got your answer in there. Tennis is a complicated scoring system!

All the best,
Max