When tennis is played at a high level by top professional players, players can serve the ball at speeds that may reach 140 mph or higher. This gives the server an advantage when it comes to winning points and games. However, when the player receiving the serve is one point away from winning the game, he is at break point. This is a key moment in the match because it can give the receiver an advantage over the server if he can win the break point.
Reaching Break Point
The server puts the ball in play and the returner will attempt to hit it back. Points are scored when one player hits the ball over the net and it lands in the court and the opponent fails to do the same. If the returner can win three points before the server wins three points, the returner is at break point. To win a game in tennis, you must win four points before your opponent wins three points. If both players win three points, one player must win two consecutive points to win the game.
Break Point, Double and Triple
The point scoring language in tennis is 15, 30, 40 and game. The server's score is announced first. If the returner wins the first three points of the game, the announced score is love-40. Love is the term in tennis for zero points. If the returner is ahead love-40, he is at triple break point. That means he has three attempts to win one point and take the game. If he is ahead 15-40, he is at double break point. If he is ahead 30-40, he is at break point.
Value of Break Point
When the game is played at a high level, players are expected to develop a strong serve. This will enable them to win a large majority of the points and games when serving. However, if a player can win at break point, she will take the lead in a set and gain an advantage. Winning a game when your opponent is serving can mean the difference in winning or losing a tennis match.
Tiebreaker
If neither player in a tennis match can win a game on the opponent's serve after 12 games are played, a tiebreaker is played. In a tiebreaker, players alternate serves and a player must reach 7 points and be ahead by at least 2 points to win the set. If neither player is ahead by 2, the tiebreaker continues until one player gains a 2-point margin. However, at the Wimbledon Championship in London, the final set of a match must be played to its conclusion without benefit of a tiebreaker. To win that set, one player must break the other's serve. In 2010, American player John Isner defeated France's Nicholas Mahut in five sets. Isner gained the victory when he defeated Mahut 70-68 in the fifth set, finally winning a break point to end the 8-hour, 11-minute match. That final score was 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-3), 70-68.
Member Comments