How Deuce and Advantage Work in Tennis Explainer
A standard tennis game reaches deuce when both players or teams have won three points, commonly announced as 40-40. From that moment, one side must win two consecutive points to take the game. The requirement prevents a one-point finish while the score is level.
The first point after deuce gives that player advantage. If the same player wins the next point, the game ends. If the opponent wins it, the score returns to deuce. This sequence can repeat indefinitely until someone strings together two points.
The server's score is always announced first, so the chair umpire may say advantage server or advantage receiver. Broadcast scoreboards often shorten those labels to Ad-In and Ad-Out. The serving order does not change merely because the game has reached deuce.
Some competitions use approved no-ad scoring, where one deciding point replaces the advantage cycle. That format must be announced for the event. Unless a special format applies, viewers can read deuce as a reset: neither side is more than two consecutive points from the game.
Deuce occurs when both sides have won three points in the game, traditionally called 40-40.
By winning two consecutive points: one for advantage and the next for the game.
No. Some approved formats use a single deciding point at deuce.
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