Skip to content
FifthSet

GlossaryScoring

Love

Tennis's word for zero; a score of love means no points in the game, and a love set is one won 6-0.

Alsolove game, love set, 15-love, zero, nil

Published

In depthHow tennis scoring works: points, games, sets and tiebreaks

Love means zero. The umpire calls the server's score first, so "15-love" means the server has won the first point and "love-30" means the receiver has won two. A "love game" is a game won without losing a point, and a "love set" is a set won 6-0, which fans also call a bagel.

Where the word comes from is not settled. One explanation says players with no points were playing "for love", that is, for nothing; another derives it from the French "l'œuf", the egg, because a zero looks like one. Both appear in the standard histories and neither is proven.

When you see it

Love is in every game score you hear on court. "40-love" is a service game one point from over; "love-40" is three break points against the server. A set that ends 6-0 is recorded on the scoreboard like any other, but commentators will name the bagel.

Rule basis

Rule 5 of the ITF Rules of Tennis lists the calls in a standard game: "Love" for no points, then 15, 30, 40 and "Game", with deuce at three points each.

Related terms

  • Deuce · The score at 40-40, when both players have won three points in a game; from there a player needs two points in a row to win the game.
  • Bagel · Slang for a set won or lost 6-0, named for the shape of the zero; a double bagel is a 6-0, 6-0 match.
  • Break point · A point the returner can win to take the game from the server, at 30-40, 15-40, 0-40 or advantage to the receiver.

Mentioned in

Sources

Material claims in this article are supported by the following sources.

  1. 01International Tennis Federation · ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 (Rules 5-7 scoring, 10 change of ends, 16-24 service and loss of point, Appendix VI alternative scoring methods)retrieved
  2. 02Wikipedia · Tennis scoring system (game, set and match scoring; history of the 15-30-40 calls and 'love'; final-set rules by tournament)retrieved