What Is a Break Point in Tennis?

Tennis is incredibly fun to watch even when you’re not totally sure what’s going on — but it’s even more gripping when you’re in the know. That said, getting up to speed can be difficult. After all, other sports use similar-sounding vocabulary, from language like “fouls” to numerical scoring systems. Tennis terminology — words like “let” or “ad” — can sound like a foreign language. But it’s worth doing the legwork to learn the basics, because once you understand the foundational rules of tennis, the rest of the game falls into place. And another term that can help you better understand the game and how tennis scoring works is “break point.”

Here, we break down what a break point in tennis is, exactly. This simple guide should help you feel more confident in the rule. And if you’re already feeling the tenniscore trend, might we suggest watching a tennis documentary to get even more in the racquet-sport spirit?

What Is a Break Point in Tennis?

A break point occurs when two conditions are met: 1) one player is one point away from a win, and 2) their opponent is serving. Essentially, in order to win the game — and inch closer to winning the set and match — the player must “break” their opponent’s serve.

There are four possible scoring combinations that could give rise to a break point: 0-40, 15-40, 30-40, or when the server does not have the advantage in a deuce. (A deuce occurs when the score is tied 40-40. To break the tie, someone must score two points in a row. A player gains the advantage when they’ve scored one.).

When the server hasn’t yet scored a point (so the score is 0-40), it’s known as a triple break point, because the returner must win one of the next three points to win the game; a 15-40 score is known as a double break point, and 30-40 score is a single break point.

Why Are Break Points in Tennis Important?

Winning the break point means winning the game, but that’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s harder to win when your opponent is serving, because a strong serve can put the returner on the defensive or disrupt their strategic placement. That’s why a break point is a particularly tense moment: you’ve got one person with the scoring advantage but not the serving advantage, and another person trying to seize their last chance to keep the game alive — sometimes with an Olympic medal on the line.

Amanda Prahl is a freelance writer, playwright/lyricist, dramaturg, teacher, and copywriter/editor. Amanda has also contributed to Slate, Bustle, Mic, The Mary Sue, and others.

Jade Esmeralda, MS, CSCS, is a Staff Writer, Health & Fitness. A life-long martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength & conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and Strength and Conditioning from George Washington University.