Tennis Glossary: Commentary Terms Explained Simply

What makes tennis hard to follow is not the rules but the density of the jargon: in a single service game a commentator gets through "ace", "first-serve percentage", "break point" and "deuce". Below are explanations without formulas, grouped by theme.

Court markings and the name of every line. A doubles court is 23.77 by 10.97 metres; in singles the alleys are excluded and the width drops to 8.23 metres.

Scoring and the shape of a match

Game: The smallest scoring unit. Points inside a game run 15, 30, 40 and game. One player serves throughout, after which the serve passes to her opponent.
Set: To win one you need six games with a margin of at least two: 6–4 ends the set, 6–5 does not.
Deuce: 40–40. From there two consecutive points are needed: the first gives advantage, the second the game. A lost point returns the score to deuce.
Tie-break: A shortened game played at 6–6. First to seven points with a margin of two; the serve changes after the first point and then every two. In a written score the tie-break appears in brackets: 7–6(4) means the tie-break finished 7–4.
Match point and set point: A point that would end the match or the set. "Saving a match point" means winning the rally while one point from defeat.
Bagel and breadstick: A set won 6–0 and a set won 6–1 respectively.

Scoring inside a game: 15, 30, 40 and the game. At 40–40 two points in a row are needed: the first gives advantage, the second wins the game.

Serve and return

Ace: A serve the returner never touches. For a first-strike player like Rybakina it is the cheapest way to win points.
Double fault: Both serve attempts miss the box and the point goes straight to the opponent. A measure of nerve and of second-serve quality.
First-serve percentage: The share of first serves that land in. Below the mid-fifties means the server will have to play a lot of second serves, and with them surrender the initiative.
Break and break point: A break is a game won against the opponent's serve; a break point is the chance to win one. There are more breaks in the women's game than the men's, so the scoreline moves faster.
Deuce court and ad court: The right and left halves of the court when serving. The ad court decides the pressure points, because advantage is always served from there.

Shots and tactics

Forehand and backhand: The shot on the racket side and on the other side. Rybakina's backhand is two-handed, which gives stability but needs more preparation time.
Topspin: Forward rotation: the ball travels in an arc and kicks up after the bounce, forcing the opponent to strike from an awkward height.
Slice: Backspin: the ball stays flat and low, breaking the rhythm of an opponent who is used to hitting a high ball.
Cross-court and down the line: Diagonally and along the sideline. Cross-court is safer - the net is lower in the middle and the diagonal is longer; down the line is riskier but opens the court.
Drop shot and lob: A short ball just over the net and a high ball over the opponent. They work as a pair: the drop shot drags her forward, the lob punishes her for coming.
Winner and unforced error: A shot the opponent cannot reach, and a mistake made under no pressure. The ratio between them shows whether a match was won on quality or handed over.

Draws, seeding and ranking

Seeding: Placing the strongest entrants in the draw so that they cannot meet in the early rounds. The seed number matches the ranking position at the time of the draw.
Wild card: A special invitation from the organisers to a player whose ranking was not enough. They usually go to home players and to those returning from injury.
Qualifying and lucky loser: The pre-tournament event that fills the last main-draw places. A lucky loser is a player beaten in the final qualifying round who still gets in when someone withdraws.
Retirement and walkover: Stopping during a match and withdrawing before it. They count differently: a walkover means the match was never played.
Ranking points and defending: The WTA ranking is the sum of points from the last 52 weeks. "Defending points" means playing an event where you did well a year ago: a weaker result costs you places even if your rivals lose too. More on the ranking page.
Tournament tiers: The four Grand Slams, then WTA 1000, 500 and 250 - the number roughly matches the points for winning. The WTA Finals stand apart, contested by the eight best players of the season.
H2H: Head-to-head, the record between two players. The full table for Rybakina's opponents is in the rivals section.

Officiating and technology

Electronic line calling (Hawk-Eye): Automatic out calls. At most large events it has replaced line judges, which is why challenges are no longer needed there.
Challenge: A request to review an official's call. It survives only where the electronic system advises rather than rules.
Order of play: The day's schedule: which matches, on which courts, in what order. Released the evening before; the exact time is known only for the first match of a session.
Session: A day or night block of matches on one court covered by a single ticket. Night sessions at the Slams begin around seven in the evening local time.

How these terms look in real match statistics can be seen on the tournament pages and in the head-to-head breakdowns.

Frequently asked questions

What does a score of 7–6(4) mean in tennis?

The set was won on a tie-break. The figure in brackets is the loser's points in that tie-break, so 7–6(4) means the tie-break finished 7–4.

What is the difference between a break and a break point?

A break point is the chance to win a game on the opponent's serve; a break is that chance taken, meaning the game was actually won.

What is a wild card in tennis?

An invitation from the tournament organisers to a player whose ranking was not high enough for direct entry. They usually go to home players and to those coming back from injury.

Why do commentators talk about defending points?

The WTA ranking counts the last 52 weeks. If a player won a title a year ago, she needs a comparable result this year, otherwise those points drop out of her total.

Tennis Glossary: The Terms You Hear in Commentary