Joanna

If the final set results in a 6-6 tie, players proceed to play a tiebreaker set. The player who returned the serve in the last game is the first one to serve. After the first point, the players then compete by serving two consecutive points until one reaches seven points with a two-point lead over the opponent. 

The set can last as long as needed for players to determine a winner.

A 7-point tiebreaker set is played when the game count is a tie during a set, and a 10-point tiebreaker is played when both sides are tied in the final set.

In a tiebreaker, the players switch sides every six points. This rule is in place to ensure fairness, considering weather conditions that are outside their control, such as wind and sun exposure. By switching sides, both players have an equal chance to adapt to these conditions. 

In 2022, the 10-point rule was applied to cap the length of the game, for the battle for the last set can last indefinitely. The rules are identical to the 7-point tiebreaker. The players serve two consecutive times until one of them breaches the 10 points with a margin of two points. If the tie occurs in the tiebreaker (9-9 or 10-10), the players continue to serve until one acquires the advantage of two points, emerging victorious.

“Love” in tennis stands for a score of zero. It is a base point from which the player starts collecting points to win a game. The scoring system progresses from “love” to 15, 30, 40, and game. The minimum number of points the player needs to collect is four, with a margin of two points over their opponent to win a game. 

For instance, let’s say the first server in a game scores a point, then the score would be 15 – “love.”

The explanation for the question “How did love come to mean score zero in tennis?” is a mystery. There are some theories, but none of them seem to explain the essence behind it.