What is a Tie Break in Tennis?
Tie break is a scoring system used in tennis when a match goes on for an extended period of time and one of the players needs to win the match. It is a way of breaking the tie between the two players. A tie break is used to decide the winner of a set when the score is tied at 6-6. The score is then advanced to 7-6 and the player with the highest score wins the set.
Rules of a Tie Break in Tennis
Tie breaks are played in a slightly different format than regular games. The following rules govern the tie break in tennis:
- Length: The tie break is played until one player reaches 7 points with a 2 point lead or until one player reaches 10 points.
- Serves: The player who served the last game in the set serves the first point in the tie break. After that, the players alternate in serving for two points at a time, until one of them reaches the winning score.
- Service Court: The players alternate service courts after each point in the tie break.
- Change of Ends: The players change ends after each six points.
- Tie Breaks in the Final Set: In some tournaments, the final set of a match can be decided by a tie break.
Scoring in Tie Break
In a tie break, the players alternate in serving for two points at a time until one player reaches the winning score. The players need to score at least 7 points and have a margin of two points over their opponent in order to win the tie break.
Tie Break Points
The points in a tie break are awarded differently than in a regular game. Each point in a tie break is worth one point, regardless of whether the player is serving or receiving.
Tie Break Advantages
The tie break system is a fair way to decide the winner of a match when the players are tied at 6-6. It is also a way to prevent long matches from dragging on for too long, as the tie break has a definite end.
Tie Break Disadvantages
The tie break system can be seen as unfair to the player who is trailing in the tie break, as it gives the leading player an advantage. It can also be seen as a disadvantage to the player who has been dominating the match, as the tie break may not reflect the overall outcome of the match.
Strategy in a Tie Break
In a tie break, the players need to be strategic in their play. Serving first is an advantage, as it allows the player to put their opponent on the defensive and force them to make mistakes. It is also important to keep the rallies short, as this can tire out the opponent and give the player an advantage.
Tie Break Variations
There are some variations of the tie break system that are used in some tournaments. The most common variations are the sudden death and the extended tie break. In the sudden death variation, the first player to reach 7 points with a two point lead wins the set, regardless of how many points have been played. In the extended tie break, the players play until one player reaches 10 points with a two point lead.
Conclusion
The tie break system is a fair way to decide the winner of a match when the players are tied at 6-6. It is also a way to prevent long matches from dragging on for too long, as the tie break has a definite end. The players need to be strategic in their play, as the tie break can be seen as an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the overall outcome of the match. There are some variations of the tie break system that are used in some tournaments, such as the sudden death and the extended tie break.