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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/tennis-tiebreak-first-to-seven

How do you win a standard tennis tie-break game?

First to seven points, ahead by two.

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  1. First to seven points, ahead by two ✔
  2. First to ten points, ahead by one
  3. First to five points, ahead by two

Why: The first player or team to win seven points wins the tie-break and the set, if they lead by two. At 6 to 6 it keeps going until someone is two ahead.

Huh, didn't know that: Because of win by two, tie-breaks like 7 to 5, 8 to 6 or even 16 to 14 are all possible.

The dad joke
My tie-break went to 14 to 12. It was less of a tie-break and more of a tie-marathon.
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References

Answer: First to seven points, ahead by two. The first player or team to win seven points wins the tie-break and the set, if they lead by two. At 6 to 6 it keeps going until someone is two ahead.

  1. ITF 2026 Rules of Tennis, Rule 5 Score in a Game www.itftennis.com/media/7221/2026-rules-of-tennis-english.pdf
    The first player/team to win seven points wins the
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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Test yourself in the game

Sports & FitnessHow are points counted during a tie-break game?Sports & FitnessIn a tie-break, the first player serves one point. Who serves the next two?Sports & FitnessIn a standard tennis game, what score comes after 30?

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