A match point in tennis is defined as the point in time when a player or team has an opportunity to win an entire match.
When announcers call out match point for the player, they use that expression to tell you that the player needs just one more point to win. If the trailing player wins the match point, it is referred to as saving the match point. Match point is a point that, if won by the leading player or team, immediately wins the match.
People tend to think of match point as an unrelated event; however, that is not the case at all. The term does not mean that a match is over when the win condition has been clearly met or that the player currently ahead by points has won.
Also, match points do not have their own special rules, unique serves, or different strategies. Some players may try to change how they play because of pressure; however, the point accumulated through play remains unchanged for purposes of determining a winner.
How Match Point Appears in the Scoring System
The sport of tennis is structured like layers of an onion. Each layer builds onto the next in a sequential pattern, with a game of tennis being built by the number of points played during the course of the game: love, 15, 30, 40, often with a deuce. Those points then build toward winning games, and games build toward winning a set, usually by reaching 6 games with a minimum 2-game margin. In many formats, winning 2 out of 3 sets makes a player the match winner. A match point is only permitted when that player has a current score that allows that player to win the match on the next point.
Where Match Point Can Happen
There are many ways to obtain a match point; however, they all have the same definition. A player can reach match point when winning the next point would win both the game/set and the match. The current set is also closed out with this point. Certain scores in a tiebreaker define match points when there is a tiebreaker to decide a set, which can also determine who is the overall winner of a match. Some doubles and league formats contain match points in the match tiebreak. A team may require a 2-point margin to win the overall match after being one point from victory during the tiebreak phase.
Standard Game Example
- Player A leads one set to zero and is up 5 to 4 in the second set. Player A is serving at 40 to 30.
- The match ends once Player A wins the next point, as they have won two sets. The score for the set then shows 6 to 4.
- So 40 to 30 is match point in that exact situation.
Deuce & Advantage Example
- Player A is leading 5 to 4 in the set, and the game reaches deuce. If Player A wins the next point, they have advantage and match point. If Player A then wins the following point, they win the game, set, and match.
- If Player A loses that point and goes back to deuce, they do not actually have a match point at this time.
Tiebreak Example
- After winning the first set, Player A wins the second set as well by winning a tiebreaker after leading 6 to 5.
- When Player A wins the next point, they generally secure a victory in the tiebreak by winning 7 or more points and by two points, and thus the match. When it is 6 to 5, this is called match point. Change the score to 5 to 6 and Player B has match point.
Match Tiebreak Example
- In a super tiebreak where you need to reach 10 points to win and be 2 points ahead, if your score is 9 to 8, you have match point since you can win the tiebreak by scoring one more point and being ahead 10 to 8.
- When both players have scored 9 points, neither player has match point because neither player can win the tiebreak on the very next point.
Match Point vs. Set Point vs. Break Point vs. Championship Point
These terms describe what the next point could unlock:
- Break point: The returner could win the game against the server.
- Set point: The leader could win the set.
- Match point: The leader could win the match.
- Championship point: The leader could win the tournament title.
Multiple tags can be placed on a specific point in a match. When one point away from winning a match, this point can be both a break point, which is the opportunity to break the opponent’s serve, and a match point. In a championship match, this same point can also be designated as a championship point.
Why Match Point Feels So Intense
At the same time, the player closing out the game tries not to tighten up and the opponent tries to keep the match going to stay in it. They both use their mental abilities to win the final point of the match.
The way in which the closing and trailing players behave can make it so that the 2 players each take a different course of action. For instance, a closing player might play conservatively to get the ball to complete the match, while a trailing player may swing at the ball more liberally since they do not have anything to lose at this point in the game.
Points are often determined at high levels of play more by the quality of the choices made, such as shot selection, margin used, and disciplined movement, than by pure winning shots. As such, the above description refers to both the execution of a particular plan during a match and the ability to maintain a solid decision-making process under pressure, such as making a reliable shot based upon your current level of confidence.
Practical Guidance With Less Noise
For young players, the best way to build consistency is to make every point feel like every other point. Follow a familiar, reliable, repetitive pattern with a clear target area while minimizing the chance of hitting directly at someone and keeping your feet moving through every point.
Taking a slow, deep breath, establishing your target, and sticking to a similar pattern between points helps reduce the feeling of chaos while on the court.
Focusing on how to achieve a successful point through your execution is far more important to the success of a junior player than the actual result of the point, whether winning or losing.
When you talk with your child about the points played, try limiting the number of takeaways you give during a briefing or debriefing session to one or two consecutive takeaways from each of your child’s last two matches, focusing only on things like patterns or targets. Your child gains more from your discussions if they are not constantly reminded of all the missed opportunities or mistakes.
For many adult recreational players, getting to match point provides them with a measurement of how often they are able to play at this same level through the continued application of who they currently are as players.
When you have a definite edge over your opponent with strength and consistency, continue to use these qualities at the time of match point to gain an advantage.
If you are losing at match point, continue with your simplified choices by deciding on 1 serve target or 1 return target, then focus on rallying, that is, creating a high margin through each point.
Take Tennis Lessons Today!
A match point is a point that can end the match if won by the leading player or team. The best way to reach more match point opportunities is by taking tennis lessons from experienced professionals.
Basha Tennis, run by Josh Basha, is a leading tennis club in Mountlake Terrace, Washington that offers private classes and group lessons for adults and juniors. If you are in the area and thinking about picking up the sport, click here to see a list of lessons available to you.
Otherwise, please take a few minutes to explore our website, including our tennis glossary, blog full of helpful articles, or visit our coaches page to get to know us!