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FifthSet

GlossaryScoring

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.

Alsotie-break, tie break, tiebreaker, seven-point tiebreak

Published

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

A tiebreak is the game that decides a set when the games reach 6-6. Points are counted 1, 2, 3 rather than 15, 30, 40, and the first player to seven points wins the set, provided they lead by two; at 6-6 in points the tiebreak continues until someone leads by two. The player due to serve serves the first point, then the serve alternates every two points, and the players change ends after every six points. The set is recorded as 7-6, usually with the loser's points in brackets: 7-6 (3).

When you see it

A tiebreak compresses a set into a few minutes, and a single lost point on serve, a mini-break, often decides it. The tours use the seven-point version in every set. At the four Grand Slam tournaments the final set is different: at 6-6 the players play a ten-point match tiebreak instead. There are no break points in a tiebreak, because there are no service games.

Rule basis

Rule 5b of the ITF Rules of Tennis sets out the tiebreak game, Rule 6 defines a "Tie-break Set" as one in which a tiebreak game is played at six games all, and Rule 10 places the change of ends after every six points. The tiebreak was devised by James Van Alen and introduced in 1965.

Related terms

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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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. 02Wikipedia · Tennis scoring system (game, set and match scoring; history of the 15-30-40 calls and 'love'; final-set rules by tournament)retrieved