| This article will help to teach you how to score a | | | | from the left, then one from the right, and then they |
| full-length tennis match. Tennis is a fairly complicated | | | | serve one from the left and one from the right. This |
| sport, so I have included the basic rules. Until you start | | | | pattern continues until the tiebreak is won. The only |
| playing in proper competitions, the more complex rules | | | | other rule of tiebreaks is that after every six points the |
| will not be necessary. | | | | players must change ends. |
| The first thing you need to know is how to win a point. | | | | To win sets and matches, you must also know how to |
| You win a point if your opponent cannot hit their shot | | | | win games. Each player takes it in turn to serve for a |
| inside your half of the court, if they hit the ball after | | | | complete game. The first point is served from the right, |
| more than one bounce, if they hit their shot into the net | | | | then the left and so on. In a game, the scoring is slightly |
| or if they miss both of their serves. | | | | different. After winning one point, your score is 15, after |
| The player who wins three sets first wins a full tennis | | | | two points it is 30, after three it is 40. |
| match - the match can be won 3-0, 3-1 and 3-2. A set | | | | If you win a fourth point, you have won the game. If |
| is won by the first player to win six games first. There | | | | both players reach 40, then the score is deuce. From |
| are a number of exceptions to this rule. | | | | here, if you win a point it is said to be your advantage. |
| 1. The wining player must have at least two games | | | | If you then win the next point, you have won the |
| more than their opponent. This means that a set | | | | game. However, if you lose the point when it is your |
| cannot be won 6-5. If your opponent has reached five | | | | advantage, the score returns to deuce and the |
| games then you have to win the set 7-5. | | | | process is repeated. |
| 2. If both players have six games, then a tiebreaker is | | | | Another rule is the serving system. Each player has |
| played to decide who wins the set. A tiebreaker is | | | | two serves. If they miss the first one, they get a |
| won by the player who has won at least 7 points and | | | | second chance to start the point. If they miss both, |
| has two more than their opponent. Some examples of | | | | then they have lost the point. If a serve hits the net but |
| winning scores include 7-2, 7-4, 9-7, and 13-11. In a | | | | still goes in, then the server gets to hit that serve again |
| tiebreaker, each player serves 2 points, one from each | | | | - as if it never happened. |
| side, before their opponent takes their turn to serve. | | | | I hope that you now know enough to start playing your |
| The only exception to this rule is the very first point of | | | | matches. Remember tennis is just a game and is best |
| the tiebreaker. The player who serves the first point | | | | played for fun! |
| serves from the right, then their opponent serves one | | | | |