Tennis rules

Tennis formats and scoring variations

The set and match formats in the ITF rules, the approved alternatives, and which you can score free on 1SCOR.

Checked against the ITF Rules of Tennis, 2026 editionLast checked Read the official rulebook ↗

At a glance

FormatGamesSetsDeciding setFree scorer
Tiebreak sets, best of 3Deuce and advantage6 games, tiebreak at 6–6A full third setNot yet
Best of 3, match tiebreakDeuce and advantage6 games, tiebreak at 6–610-point match tiebreak at one set allYes
Best of 5Deuce and advantage6 games, tiebreak at 6–6A full fifth setNot yet
Advantage setsDeuce and advantage6 games, play on until 2 clearAdvantage setNot yet
Final-set tiebreak to 10Deuce and advantage6 games, tiebreak at 6–6To 6–6, then a tiebreak to 10Not yet
No-adOne deciding point at deuceAny set formatAnyNot yet
Short setsEither4 games, tiebreak at 4–4 (or 3–3)As announcedNot yet
STANDARD

Tiebreak sets

One of the two main set formats in the rules.

  • Six games, two clear, with a tiebreak at 6–6 Rule 6 (b)
  • Tiebreak to 7 points, two clear Rule 5 (b)
  • Best of 3 or 5 sets Rule 7
Organisers say in advance how the final set is played

Advantage sets

The other main set format: no tiebreak.

  • From 6–6, play on until someone is two games clear Rule 6 (a)
  • Can be every set, or just the final set Rule 6
Not in the free scorer yet

Match tiebreak

Replaces the deciding set, at one set all or two sets all.

  • First to 10 points, two clear. A 7-point version is also allowed Appendix VI
  • The serving order carries on from the last set Appendix VI
  • A set break of up to 120 seconds before it Appendix VI
10-point version, best of 3 setsScore this format →

Final-set tiebreak to 10

Added to the rules in 2025.

  • Play the final set as normal up to 6–6 Appendix VI
  • Then a tiebreak to 10 points, two clear, decides the match Appendix VI
Not in the free scorer yet

No-ad scoring

An approved alternative to deuce and advantage.

  • At deuce, one deciding point wins the game Appendix VI
  • The receiver picks which side to receive it on Appendix VI
  • Doubles: the receivers can’t swap places. Mixed: the player of the server’s gender receives Appendix VI
Not in the free scorer yet

Short sets

Shorter sets, from the approved alternatives.

  • First to 4 games, two clear, with a tiebreak at 4–4 Appendix VI
  • Or a tiebreak at 3–3, if organisers choose Appendix VI
  • Optional short-set tiebreak: first to 5, deciding point at 4–4 Appendix VI
Not in the free scorer yet

Other approved options

Two more changes organisers can make.

  • No-let: a serve that clips the net is in play Appendix VI
  • In a tiebreak, change ends after point 1, then every 4 points Appendix VI
Neither changes how points are counted

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.