HOW TO KEEP SCORE DURING A GAME OF TENNIS

By Dr Cheng Jun

Introduction Dr. Cheng Jun has spent more than 20 years as director of the

Cheng Jun Gastroenterology and Medical Clinic in Singapore. Outside of his activities as a master endoscopist, Dr. Cheng Jun enjoys staying active through tennis and archery.

Keeping score during a tennis match can be complicated for first-time players or spectators. Scoring can prove particularly challenging during games, due to the fact that players do not win one, two, and three points before winning a game. Instead, tennis players who win the first point of a game lead 15-0. From there, the score progresses to 30-0, 40-0, and finally game.

New players and spectators must familiarize themselves with several additional scoring rules and practices.

Scoring during a Game of Tennis For example, players tied at 40-40, otherwise known as “40

all,” enter into a deuce situation. Players must win one point to gain advantage and a second point to win the game. The game cannot end until a player has won two consecutive points from deuce. Players or umpires announce the score as “ad out” if the receiving player has earned the advantage, whereas the server’s advantage is announced as “ad in.”

Other aspects of tennis scoring are less formal. For instance, some players prefer to use the word “love” in place of “zero,” such as "love all" to start a game or “15 serving love.” While less common, some players use “five” as shorthand for 15.