Q&A for How to Play a Tennis Tiebreaker

A tiebreaker is played at the end of a set with the score is tied at 6-6. The winner is the first player to get to 7 and lead by two points, for example 7-5, 9-7, or 10-8. Player A begins the tiebreaker with one service point starting on the deuce court. Player B then has two service points that begin on the advantage (left hand side of the court) side. Both players take two serves alternately until one player reaches 7. After 6, 12, 18 points are played, players swap sides. This is to ensure that any one player does not benefit from favorable conditions.

The players do switch sides after a tie breaker or any other odd numbered game.

It signifies how many points the loser of the tiebreaker scored. So in this case, the tiebreaker score was 7-4.

The first serve is served from the right side of the court. The second serve is served from the left side of the court. This helps the players to keep track of the score, based on which side of the court the ball is being served.

A set is won by the first player to win at least six games while winning at least two games more than the opponent. A 4-6 score is typically called 6-4 and means the set winner won six games, and the loser won four games.

There is no limit. The score could be 10-10 and they would have to keep playing until someone wins by 2.

In singles, the player who didn't start the tiebreaker will serve at the beginning of the next set. In doubles, the team that didn't start the tiebreaker will serve the first game of the next set. Since it is a new set, the partners can choose which player will serve even if that player served the last point of the tiebreaker.

Most professional tennis associations require the last set in a match to be an advantage set. The U.S. Tennis Association is one of the only ones that allows a tiebreaker to be played during the last set of a match.

The person who received during the last game will serve the first point of the tiebreaker, then the other person will serve two points. After that, the server will change after ever two serves.

No, the server must always serve the ball diagonally across the court.

You win that point. If your opponent serves and you manage to win that set, you broke it, so it's your serve.

No. The order of the servers is the same as the order of the servers in the beginning of the game.

Yes, assuming you are permitted to challenge the umpire at any other time in the match.

Just carry on from the score you are on. If you forgot to change sides, just switch ends and carry on playing. After that, carry on switching ends at appropriate times.

The deuce court is the right half of your side of the court as you face the net from the baseline. It's the half you stand in when you or your opponent are about to serve (in singles play). The deuce court on your side of the net is diagonally opposite the deuce court on the other side of the net.

At any time during a match (including a tie-breaker), if the server commits a fault (including a foot fault), assuming it's the first fault of the point, the point is replayed with another serve. If it's the second fault of the point, the point is won by the server's opponent.

The player who serves first in the tie-breaker will receive serve first in the next set.

Yes, the first server serves to the deuce court.

You go to the deuce side no matter which side you're currently playing.

Instead of playing a normal 7-point tiebreak, you just play a tiebreak with 10 points.

It should be called "out" because it is out of the service box they are supposed to serve in. If you return it without calling the ball "out," it will be assumed "in," and the point will be played.

No. No stopping to sit down in the chair, when switching sides, during the Tie Breaker.

Your opponent is trying to psych you out and make things harder for you. Have a laugh at them next time and say: "Good one buddy, but I'm not that dumb. I'm having a drink for the sake of my health, I suggest you do too."

The one which is 7-5 can not possibly be after a tie break. Only 7-6.

The player who serves the last game before the tiebreaker also serves the first game of the set following the tiebreaker. The reason is that the other player gets to serve first in the tiebreaker.

I assume that you are talking about doubles. You use the same service rotation as you had been using for the rest of the games in that set, prior to the tie breaker. Now, if you are one set apiece, and the third set is a 10 point tie breaker, you and your partner can switch up who serves first or second, and switch up, if you like, who plays the deuce court and who plays the ad court. The third set 10 point tie breaker is just like a new set.

If each player has won one set, and it's too dark to continue play, the match is suspended until the following day.

Whichever team received in the last game will serve first.

If the tiebreak ended when player A was serving, player B starts serving.

Yes. Whoever was due to serve next will serve first in the tie breaker. Then you would keep going in the same order as you had been until the tie breaker is completed.