What Is a Match Point in Tennis?
A match point is a point that could decide a tennis match. Learn how match points work, how they differ from set and game points, and what happens when a player saves one.
A match point in tennis is a point that, if won by the player who has it, ends the match immediately. The player is one point away from victory, so the outcome of the next rally can decide the entire contest.
For example, if a player leads 5–4 in the final set and reaches 40–30 while serving, they have match point. Winning the next point gives them the game, the set, and the match. If the opponent wins the rally, the match continues.
How match point works in tennis
A match point occurs when a player is ahead by enough games or points to win the match with one more point. The exact score depends on the match format and the current game.
- In a standard game: A player usually has match point at 40–30, or after gaining advantage from deuce.
- At the end of a set: The player must be one game away from winning the set that decides the match.
- In a tiebreak: A player has match point when reaching a winning score, such as 6–5 or 9–8, provided they are ahead by two points or can win the match under the event’s rules.
The phrase “match point” describes the situation, not a special type of serve or rally. The point is played under the same rules as every other point, although the pressure is usually much greater.
Examples of match point scores
In a best-of-three-set match, a player might lead 6–4, 5–4 and reach 40–30. That is match point because winning the next point would give the player the final game and the second set.
Another example can occur in a deciding-set tiebreak. If the score is 9–8, the player leading has a match point if winning the next point would give them the required two-point margin and finish the match.
A player can also have more than one match point. At 40–15, for instance, the player has two chances to win the match. If the opponent saves both, the score may reach deuce and the opportunity disappears unless the player creates another one.
Match point, set point and game point
These terms identify what a player can win by taking the next point:
| Term | What the next point can decide |
|---|---|
| Game point | The current game |
| Set point | The current set |
| Match point | The entire match |
One point can have more than one description. If a player is serving at 5–4 in the final set and leads 40–30, the point is both game point and match point. In a deciding-set tiebreak, it may also be described as a match point without being a set point in the usual sense.
What happens after a player saves match point?
If the opponent wins a match point, the match does not end. The score changes according to the result of the rally, and the player who was defending may have another chance to level the game or take control.
For example, after saving a match point at 30–40, a player may reach deuce by winning the next point. From deuce, they must win two consecutive points to take the game. A player can save several match points in the same game or across multiple games.
Commentators may refer to a player “saving match points” when they prevent the opponent from closing out the match. If the player eventually wins, the comeback is often described as a match-point comeback.
Does match point mean the match is almost over?
Yes, but it does not guarantee that the match will end on that point. The player with match point has a direct opportunity to win, while the opponent must win the rally to stay alive. A match can continue for several minutes after the first match point if the defending player saves the opportunity and creates more resistance.
The term is used in singles and doubles tennis, at professional and amateur levels. In doubles, the same scoring principle applies: the team with the chance to win the match on the next point has match point.
