A tiebreak in tennis is a special game played when players reach a 6-6 score in a set. Instead of continuing regular games indefinitely, a tiebreaker decides the set quickly and fairly. Essentially, the tiebreak is a first-to-7-points race (win by two) that determines who wins the set 7-6. Tiebreakers add excitement and prevent marathon sets, ensuring matches end in a reasonable time. They follow slightly different scoring and serving rules than normal games.
In tennis, a set normally is won by the first player to six games with at least a two-game lead (for example 6-4). When both players reach six games each (6-6), a tiebreak is played in a tiebreak set. This deadlock invokes a “game” where points are counted in plain numbers (1, 2, 3, …) rather than the usual tennis score (15, 30, 40). The winner of the tiebreak wins the set 7-6. Tiebreakers are common in most professional and amateur events, and they began in the early 1970s to shorten matches. Today, virtually all tournaments use tiebreaks in each set (with a few exceptions in deciding sets that have recently been phased out).
A tiebreak is typically played whenever a set reaches 6-6 in games. For example, if Player A and Player B each win six games, they play a tiebreaker to decide the seventh game of the set. Some events historically handled final sets differently: for instance, Wimbledon used to play on past 6-6 in the final set (without a tiebreak) until a 12-12 score, but as of 2022 it now uses a 10-point tiebreak at 6-6. In fact, the four Grand Slam tournaments adopted a unified rule in 2022: any deciding (final) set that reaches 6-6 uses a 10-point tiebreak, won by two points. This means that in 2025, if the final set of a match hits 6-6 at the French Open, Wimbledon, US Open or Australian Open, a special super-tiebreak (first to 10) will be played to decide the match.
For most matches and sets, however, the standard 7-point tiebreak applies at 6-6. In shorter-format events or doubles, some use a “match tiebreak” (first to 10 by two) instead of a full third set. But in singles at the pro level, fans can expect a first-to-seven points tiebreak at 6-6 for each set (or first-to-ten for deciding sets at majors as noted).
During a tiebreak, points are tallied as 1, 2, 3, etc. The first player to reach at least 7 points with a margin of two points wins the tiebreak and thus the set 7-6. For example, a tiebreak could end 7-3, 7-5, or, if the score is very close, 15-13, 10-8, etc. There is no cap: play continues until that two-point margin is achieved. Both players switch ends of the court at specific points to keep conditions fair (more below).
Each point won in the tiebreak counts as a point for the winner’s game score. The player who wins the tiebreak game is awarded the seventh game of the set, making the final set score 7-6. For match scores, we often see something like 6-4, 6-7, 7-6, with the 6-7 indicating the player lost the tiebreak. In tiebreak scoring announcements, after the tiebreak ends, the set is simply recorded as 7-6 in favor of the winner.
Serving in a tiebreak follows a special rotation. The player who would serve the next game (after 6-6) serves the first point of the tiebreak, from the deuce (right) side of the court. After that single point, the players switch servers. The opponent then serves two points: first from the ad (left) side, then from the deuce side. Thereafter, players alternate serving two consecutive points each (one from each side) throughout the tiebreak. For example:
This pattern continues until the tiebreak ends. Notice that after the initial one-point serve, each player serves two points in a row. This rotation is designed so each player serves the same number of points eventually (or as close as possible). It also means the player who received in the last game will serve first in the tiebreak.
Because conditions like sun, wind or crowd may favor one side of the court, players switch ends to keep fairness. In a tiebreak, players change ends after the first point and then after every six total points played. Concretely, after points 1, 7, 13, 19, etc., the players walk to the opposite ends. For example, after one point (score 1-0), they switch sides; then again at 4-3 (7 points total), again at 10-8 (19 points total), and so on. If the tiebreak ends at an even total (say 12 points, e.g. 7-5), the final switch is not needed because play is already over. Keeping track: switch ends once at the first point, and then every time the combined point score reaches a multiple of six. This routine is a key part of tiebreaks to ensure no one player gets an undue environmental edge.
Traditionally, different tournaments had quirks for final sets. For example, up until 2019, the Australian Open used a first-to-ten tiebreak at 6-6 only in the final set (like 10-point winners of two), while Wimbledon played on in final sets until 12-12. But since 2022, all Grand Slams follow a uniform rule: a 10-point tiebreak at 6-6 in the deciding set. This means in 2025, any match that goes to a final set and is tied at 6-6 will end with a shorter super-tiebreak. Additionally, in many events (especially doubles or lower-level tournaments), a “match tiebreak” (first to 10 points, win by 2) replaces a full third set, speeding up matches.
In summary, a tiebreak in tennis kicks in when a set is deadlocked at six games apiece, turning the next game into a fast-paced, first-to-seven (win-by-two) showdown. The serving and side-switching rules in tiebreakers are unique, making it a tense mini-game of strategy and nerves. Knowing how and when tiebreaks work helps players and fans alike appreciate these climactic moments that often decide closely contested matches.
