Tennis rules

The tennis tiebreak, explained

How it is won, who serves each point and from which side, when to change ends, and how the match tiebreak differs.

Checked against the ITF Rules of Tennis, 2026 edition, Rule 5 (b)Last checked Read the official rulebook ↗
The rule in one line

At 6–6, first to 7 points, two clear, wins the set. Serve one, then two each, and change ends every 6 points.

Who serves in a tiebreak

Point Serves From 1 A Right 2 B Left 3 B Right 4 A Left 5 A Right 6 B Left 7 B Right 8 A Left 9 A Right 10 B Left 11 B Right 12 A Left CHANGE ENDS A serves once, then each side serves two in a row. First to 7, two points clear: 7–5, 8–6, 12–10…
Singles, A due to serve. In doubles, partners keep the serving order they used all set.

Serving in a tiebreak

A tiebreak point is a normal point. What changes is who serves and from which side. Rule 5 (b), 17

A1
ALLOWEDPoint 1: whoever is due to serve, from the rightThey serve that one point alone. Rule 5 (b), 17
BB23
ALLOWEDPoints 2 and 3: the other side, left then rightFrom then on, two serves each, sides alternating. Rule 5 (b), 17
12
ALLOWEDA second serve after a faultEvery tiebreak point has two serves. Rule 20
LET
ALLOWEDServe clips the net and lands in: serve againA let. A fault before it still counts. Rule 22
FAULTServe into the box straight aheadEvery serve must go diagonally. Rule 17, 19 (a)
FAULTFoot on the baseline as you serveA foot fault, in a tiebreak as anywhere. Rule 18 (b), 19 (a)

Common mistakes

  • “First to 7 wins.”Only with a two-point lead. From 6–6 it goes on: 8–6, 9–7… Rule 5 (b)
  • “Each player serves two points from the start.”Point 1 is served alone. Two each starts with point 2. Rule 5 (b)
  • “Whoever served first in the tiebreak serves first in the next set.”They receive first in the next set. Rule 5 (b)
  • “Change ends when the tiebreak is over.”Change after every 6 points, with no rest. Rule 10, 29 (a)
  • “A match tiebreak is just a normal tiebreak.”It replaces the whole deciding set, and is played to 10 (or 7), two clear. Appendix VI
  • “The match tiebreak starts a fresh serving order.”The order carries on from the set before. Doubles pairs may swap their order, as at the start of a set. Appendix VI
Scoring itThe free scorer starts the tiebreak at 6–6, shows who serves each point, and plays the deciding set as a 10-point match tiebreak.
Score a match

Related rules

Sets and matches → When to change ends → Match tiebreak and no-ad scoring → All tennis rules →

Rules are written by 1SCOR in our own words and checked against the official rulebook. They are not the rulebook: for anything official, read the rulebook itself.