A tiebreak decides a set when the games reach 6–6. Instead of playing on until someone leads by two games, players play one deciding game scored in points. Here's exactly how it works.
When is a tiebreak played?
In most formats, when a set reaches 6 games all (6–6), you play a tiebreak to decide the set, which is then recorded as 7–6. Some events skip the tiebreak in the final set and play it out by two games — but the standard set tiebreak is to 7.
How to score a standard tiebreak (first to 7)
- The tiebreak is won by the first player to reach 7 points, and you must win by two. So 7–5 wins, but 7–6 does not — you keep going until someone leads by two (8–6, 9–7, and so on).
- Serving order: the player whose turn it is to serve serves the first point. After that, service alternates every two points, and each new pair of points starts with the other player.
- Sides: players change ends every six points (after point 6, 12, 18…).
- The winner of the tiebreak wins the set 7–6.
A quick example
Server A serves point 1 (from the deuce side). Then B serves points 2 and 3, A serves points 4 and 5, and so on — always two each. After every 6 points played, swap ends. First to 7, win by two, takes the set.
The 10-point match tiebreak (super tiebreak)
Many junior, college, doubles and recreational formats replace the deciding third set with a 10-point match tiebreak: first to 10 points, win by two. The serving and side-change rules are the same idea (serve one, then alternate two; change ends every 6 points). A match tiebreak is recorded like a set score, e.g. [10–7].
No-ad and other variations
Tiebreak rules don't change with no-ad game scoring — no-ad only affects deuce inside a normal game. Whatever your format, the tiebreak itself is scored the same: first to 7 (or 10 for a match tiebreak), win by two.
Let CourtLive score it for you
Getting the serving order and win-by-two right under pressure is exactly where people lose track. The CourtLive tennis scoring app handles tiebreaks, match tiebreaks, deuce/advantage and no-ad automatically — you just tap the point winner, and it keeps the score correct and shares it live. It's free in any browser.