A tennis tiebreak is played when the set score reaches 6-6 to decide the winner of that set. Instead of continuing normal games, players play a special game where points are counted numerically (1, 2, 3, etc.) rather than the usual 15, 30, 40 scoring system
. How the tiebreak works:
- The first player to serve in the tiebreak is the one who was next in line to serve after the 6-6 score. This player serves one point from the right (deuce) court
- After the first point, the serve switches to the opponent, who serves two points starting from the left (advantage) court, then the right court.
- From then on, players alternate serving two points each until the tiebreak ends
- Players switch sides of the court after the first point and then after every multiple of six points (e.g., after the 1st, 7th, 13th points, etc.) to ensure fairness regarding conditions like wind or sun
Winning the tiebreak:
- The first player to reach 7 points with at least a 2-point lead wins the tiebreak and thus the set (score recorded as 7-6).
- If the score reaches 6-6 in the tiebreak, play continues until one player leads by two points (e.g., 8-6, 9-7)
- This format applies to both singles and doubles, with serving order maintained in doubles
Tiebreaks add intensity and strategy to the match, as players must maintain focus under pressure to secure the set quickly
. In summary, a tiebreak is a fast-paced mini-game played at 6-6 in a set, where players race to 7 points with a 2-point margin, alternating serves in a specific pattern and switching sides regularly to ensure fairness
