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Match tiebreak

A ten-point tiebreak that decides a match; all four Grand Slams play it at 6-6 in the final set, and in doubles it often replaces the third set.

Alsosuper tiebreak, 10-point tiebreak, ten-point tiebreak, final-set tiebreak, champions tiebreak

Published

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

A match tiebreak is a tiebreak played to ten points instead of seven, with the usual two-point margin, and it ends the match. It comes in two forms. In most doubles events it replaces the deciding set altogether: at one set all the teams play a ten-point tiebreak. At the four Grand Slam tournaments it is played in singles too, but only after the final set has reached 6-6.

When you see it

Since Roland-Garros 2022 all four majors use the same rule: at six games all in the final set, the first player to ten points with a two-point advantage wins the match. Before that each Slam did its own thing, and the Grand Slam Board said the joint change was "based on a strong desire to create greater consistency in the rules of the game at the Grand Slams". A final-set score of 7-6 (10-8) tells you the match ended this way. In everyday speech it is often called a super tiebreak.

Rule basis

Appendix VI of the ITF Rules of Tennis lists the "Match Tie-break (10 points)" and the "Final Set Tie-break (10 points)" as approved alternative scoring methods. The Grand Slam Rule Book 2026 (Article L, Number of Sets, Tie-break) provides for a ten-point tiebreak in the final set.

Related terms

  • Tiebreak · The game played at 6-6 in a set to decide it; the first player to seven points with a two-point margin wins the set 7-6.
  • Grand Slam · One of the four majors (Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, US Open) or, strictly, the feat of winning all four in one calendar year.
  • 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.

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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. 02Australian Open (Tennis Australia) · Grand Slams jointly adopt 10-point final-set tiebreakpublished · retrieved
  3. 03International Tennis Federation · 2026 Official Grand Slam Rule Book (qualifying: lucky losers and substitutions; set format of main-draw matches)retrieved