There are many tennis rules covering line calls, scoring, hindrances and other aspects of the game, but the rules governing a match depend on the type of match being played. Some tournaments use pro sets, while some leagues use best of two or three-set matches. Others use different tie-breaks for different purposes. Knowing the rules that govern your match will help you play fair and win the competitions you deserve.
Game
To win games in a tennis match, you'll need to know if you are playing ad or no-ad scoring. With the former system, you must win the game by at least two points, as in ping pong. In no-ad scoring, the first player to win four points wins. At three points all, the receiver chooses on which side he wishes to return, and the winner of that point wins the game. In TeamTennis mixed doubles matches, the seventh point is played gender to gender. Games played with no-ad scoring often favor the server, who can win a game with a good or lucky serve on the seventh point, but these formats help keep match times down. This is especially helpful when there are many matches and few courts.
Set
Sets are generally played until one player wins six games; winner by two games. At six games all, most matches require the players to play a tie-break. In some matches, the final set must be played out, with no tie-break. In some leagues, such as TeamTennis, a tie-break is played at five games all.
Match
A match ends when one player wins the best of two or three sets or a pro set. Recently, the United States Tennis Association instituted a match tie-break in lieu of a third or fifth set. For example, if players in a best-of-three-set match split the first two sets, they play a match tie-break to determine the final set.
A pro set is an extended set that counts as a match. These are played with the winner winning eight or 10 games, depending on the format. In some leagues, a tie-break is played at eight or 10 games all. In other leagues, the tie-breaks are played at seven or nine games all so the winner ends with eight or 10 games.
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