What Does “Love” Mean In Tennis?

“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. 

Point scored	Call
0	“love”
1	15
2	30
3	40
4	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.