Love Means Nothing - A Recreational Habits Guide To Tennis Scoring

Love = Zero
When the score is “love–fifteen,” you’re not serenading your opponent...you’re losing! 

Fifteen, Thirty, Forty
Yes, it skips right over ten, twenty, and thirty. No one knows why. Tradition, darling. Just say it with confidence.

Deuce Drama
When both players hit 40–40, it’s called deuce. To win, you’ll need two points in a row: first “advantage,” then “game.” Miss it, and you’re back to deuce. (Yes, it can go on forever. Bring a spritz.)

Sets & Matches
Win six games (by at least two) to claim a set. For regular tourneys and matches, best of three sets usually wins the match. For special tennis tourneys like the US Open and Wimbledon, it will sometimes be best of five!