How do tennis tiebreakers work? How Wimbledon, Grand Slam winners are determined
Some of the rules of tennis might not be as well-known for those tuning into Wimbledon, one of four Grand Slam tournaments (alongside the U.S. Open, French Open and Australian Open).
REQUIRED READING: What surface is Wimbledon played on? What to know
On the men's side, the first player to win three of five sets wins the match, whereas women compete in best-of-three matches. A set is won by the first person to reach six games — so long as the player has a two-game advantage.
That's where this explanation comes along: How are tiebreakers determined when tennis players are tied 6-6 in a set? Here's how tennis tiebreakers work, which will almost certainly come into play at Wimbledon.
How do tiebreakers work in tennis?
A set is won after one side of the match wins six games while also maintaining a two-game lead. If the set is tied at 6-6, however, then the two sides enter a tiebreaker.
Tiebreaker scoring is measured in points (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.). In the event two players or teams are tied 6-6 in a set, the tiebreaker set goes to the side who reaches seven points first with a winning margin of at least two points.
Here's the official wording from the International Tennis Federation rules:
"When the score in a match is one set all, or two sets all in best of five sets matches, one tie-break game may be played to decide the match. This tie-break game replaces the deciding final set. The first player/team to win seven points shall win the match tie-break and the match provided there is a margin of two points over the opponent(s). If necessary, the match tie-break game shall continue until this margin is achieved."
Wimbledon, Grand Slam final-set tiebreaker rules
In 2022, each of the four Grand Slam events released a joint statement in which they declared 10-point final-set tiebreakers would be placed into effect. The rule is similar to a standard tiebreaker, except that the first player or team to 10 points with a two-point advantage is the winner.
The prior rule mandated that tennis players at Grand Slam events must win the final set — and therefore the match — with a two-game advantage. That led to a legendary match between American Josh Isner and French player Nicolas Mahut in the first round at Wimbledon in 2010: It spanned 8 hours and 11 minutes over two days, with Isner ultimately besting Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (7), 70-68 — the final set lasting 138 games.
"Under this trial, if the score reaches six games all in the final set, the match winner(s) will be the first player(s) to win 10 points with an advantage of two or more points," the statement reads.
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