History of Scoring in Tennis
Tennis is a sport that has been around for centuries, and the scoring system is just as old. The modern scoring system used today has its roots in the past, and is one of the oldest scoring systems in sports. Who came up with scoring in tennis and how has it evolved over time?
Early Tennis Scoring
The earliest known reference to tennis-like games dates back to the Middle Ages in France, when a game called jeu de paume was popular. It is thought that this game was the precursor to modern tennis, and the scoring system used was similar to the one used today. The first set was played to nine points, with the winner being the first to reach five. The second set was played to seven points, with the winner being the first to reach four. If the game was tied after two sets, a deciding set was played to five points.
The Origin of Modern Scoring in Tennis
The modern scoring system we use today was first proposed by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield in 1873. He proposed a game called Sphairistikè, which was similar to modern tennis. The scoring system he proposed was a game to 11 points, with the winner being the first to reach six. This system was adopted by the Marylebone Cricket Club, and is the basis of the scoring system used in modern tennis today.
Evolution of Scoring in Tennis
Since Wingfield’s proposal, the scoring system in tennis has continued to evolve.
Adoption of the Tie-Break
In 1971, a tie-break system was introduced to reduce the number of long matches. The tie-break system is used when the score is 6-6 in any set. The tie-break is played to seven points, with the winner being the first to reach four points with a two-point margin.
Introduction of No-Ad Scoring
In 2001, the ATP introduced the no-ad scoring system for all matches on the ATP and WTA tour. The no-ad system is similar to the traditional scoring system, but the winner of each point is determined by the first player or team to win four points. If the score is tied at three points each, the player or team who won the last point is declared the winner.
The Advantage Set
In 2008, the ATP and WTA introduced the advantage set. This system is used in place of the tie-break at the end of the third set. Instead of playing a tie-break, the players continue to play until one of them has a two-point advantage.
Current Scoring System in Tennis
The current scoring system in tennis is as follows:
- A game is won by the first player or team to win four points with a two-point margin.
- If the score is tied at three points each, the player or team who won the last point is declared the winner.
- At 6-6 in any set, a tie-break is played to seven points, with the winner being the first to reach four points with a two-point margin.
- At the end of the third set, the players can choose to play an advantage set, where the winner is the first to reach a two-point advantage.
Conclusion
The scoring system used in modern tennis can be traced back to Major Walter Clopton Wingfield’s proposal of a game called Sphairistikè. Since then, the scoring system has continued to evolve, with the introduction of the tie-break, no-ad scoring, and the advantage set. Today, the scoring system is used in tournaments around the world, and is one of the oldest in sports.
References
- Tennis History. (2020). Tennis History. Retrieved from https://www.usta.com/en/home/about-usta/tennis-history.html.
- Kessel, C. (2018). History of Tennis: A Sport for Royalty. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-tennis-3528256.
- Scoring in Tennis. (2018). Scoring in Tennis. Retrieved from https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/learn_tennis/scoring_system.html.