Playing the Score (Match)

Playing the Match Score

The match score is simple. It is the best two out of three sets. So if you win the first two sets, you win. If you win the first and third set, you win. If you win the second and third set, you win.

Win the first set!

In any match, it is pretty rare for someone to lose the first set and then win the next two. Usually the conditions involve the winner discovering some sort of huge weakness in their opponent late in the first set. An injury occurs to the opponent (or reoccurs). Or the opponent just gets really tired.

However, if one of those things does not happen, the person who wins the first set, most likely wins the match. The reason being that the opponent must win two sets in a row to win after already played a set. Winning the second set is hard mentally and physically. But to keep that going without a losing it in the third set shows a tremendous will to compete.

Tennis is a marathon

Every player has a mind, body and spirit. A mind to play a good mental game. A body to play a good physical game, and a spirit that gives you the will to win. When the player's energy is low in one of these departments, then it all falls apart. You have a certain amount of energy to give for all three. You allocate your energy in order to play the best game you can. This is constant throughout the match. If you almost twist your ankle, you add more energy into physical and spirit. It is on break point, more energy for mental and spirit. Your forehand is not working as well as usual, mental for the adjustments, physical and spirit for the execution.

Ideally, you would want to train enough to not have to worry about these things. however, not many people are good at training all three parts (nor do they have the time). Fortunately, people that play on your level have the same problem.

Playing the Score (Set)

The set strategy is just as complicated as game strategy

Playing the Set Score

Set are scored as follows: first person to 6 games wins. But you have to win by 2 games. You alternate serves every game. If the returning player wins a game, it is called a break. In the event the players get to 6 -5 the next game decides if the set is won by 2 (7-5) or there is a tiebreaker (6-6).

Try to Serve First

If you win the coin toss or the racket spin, you will get to have the choice whether you want to serve first, return first, or which side of the court you want to start. If there are no factors influencing your decision, you should pick to serve first. If you both win your serves the whole time, you will always be ahead when you switch sides. The opponent is catching up. Also, once you get to 4 serving 5, if you break them, THAT IS THE END OF THE SET. If they hold serve and then break you, they still have to serve out the set. They have to win 3 games in a row to your 2.

If you are playing doubles, the doubles partner that serves second on his team is usually the one who closes out the set. So put your best server second.

When ahead, think games. When behind, think breaks.


Say two people are playing and one guy broke the other in the fifth game so the score is 4 serving 2. The guy with 4 should say to himself "I'm two games ahead. I hold serve twice in a row and I win the set." The guy with 2 should say "I'm just down a break. Let's break back."

Statistically speaking, it is easiest to break a person once they have broken you.

Play hard or go home!

Simplest strategy in theory is to just try hard to win every point. You are banking on either your ability or your endurance. So lift weights and jog!!

Window of opportunity

A more complex strategy but better for older players is to play in a lower gear and only up the gear when you are serving or at the end games of the set. Once someone gets to 4 games it is officially the business end of the set. You have two games to get your energy up and apply pressure and the rest of the set to play at the best of your ability. With the tension associated with winning the set, you might sneak away with the break you need simply because your opponent was scared.

Routine Set

Ideally you want to get one break and comfortably hold serve until the end of the set. 6-4 or 6-3 is what they call a routine set.

Next time, the match strategy.

Playing the Score (Game Points)

One of the strongest strategies that anyone can employ in their game is playing the score. If you don't play the score and play like you need to win every point, you might lose your intensity over a long period of time. By organizing the points in a matter of importance, you can better judge how you react at certain times and change your game accordingly.

The simple way to do it is to play in gears. 1st gear being the easy warm up when you can hit and talk at the same time. 4th gear is the full out footwork, grunting, run everything down, fist pumping intensity. The gears are technique based. It should be the same strategy and pattern that you follow.

If you are serving, you want to play at about third gear and up it to 4th gear if you get behind in the count. So, say you double fault the first point away. You are down 0-15. At that time you want to raise it to 4th gear because if you lose the next point you will be down 0-30 (two points away from losing the game). At any game point, you should up the gear to 4th.

If you are returning, you want to play about 2nd gear. Then if you happen to be up 0-30, you can up it to gear 3 and then to gear 4 at game point or at 15-30.

Keep in mind that if you are lifting gears, your focus and technique is suppose to go up. So if you start missing shots badly, it is usually because of either focus or technique. If it is focus, reaffirm what the plan is and play the next point. If it is technique, add more topspin.

Of course, with tennis, it can get much more complex. For instance, if the player has a very good weapon that they rely on like a big first serve, you might have to up your return a higher gear just to get the ball in play. But after that you can lower the gear back to normal. With this basic concept of game points as the skeleton, you can determine where you adjust your game while you play.

Next time...Set Games