How to Keep Score at a Singles Tennis Match

Learn the basic format of a tennis match, which consists of individual games and sets. Most women's matches are played in three sets and most men's matches are played in five sets. The first player to win six games with a two-game lead over his opponent wins the set. In the event that the games are tied at six, a tiebreaker is played to determine the winner of the set. Tiebreakers are played to a score of 7, and to win a tiebreaker, a player must win by two points.

Learn the point system. A point is scored when a player hits the ball into the net, hits the ball outside of the designated play line, cannot reach a ball, swings and misses, serves an ace (a non-returned serve) or double-faults (hits the ball into the net twice consecutively while attempting to serve, or serves outside the service area twice in a row). The first point that is won is worth a count of 15, the second is worth 30 and the third is worth 40. The fourth point which decides a game has no numerical value.

Learn the game system. Games consist of one player serving and the other receiving. The serving player's score is always called first. The first player to score four points with at least a two-point advantage over his opponent wins the game. If the score is tied at 40-40, it is known as "deuce," and a player must score two consecutive points to win the game. The first point scored after "deuce" is known as "advantage," meaning the player who scores that point has the advantage. If that same player scores again, he wins the game. If the opposing player scores in an advantage situation, the score reverts to "deuce" again.

Score the tennis match by observing who gets to four points first in each game. Give that person the score of "1" under games won. Proceed sequentially until a player wins six games. Give that player the score of "1" under sets won. The player who wins two out of three sets or three out of five sets is the winner of the match.