Tennis scores in English: love, 15, 30, 40, deuce and advantage

In a regular tennis game, announce the server’s score first. Zero is love; 15, 30 and 40 are fifteen, thirty and forty. At 40–40 say deuce. For the next point in advantage scoring, say advantage and identify the player. A regular-game score of 34 is not part of this sequence; check whether the intended score was 30–40.

The basic vocabulary

Which player comes first?

If the server has 30 and receiver 40, call thirty-forty. If the server has 40 and receiver 30, call forty-thirty. A player’s position on the screen does not define the call order; the server does.

Announce advantage clearly

After deuce, the next point gives its winner advantage. Name the player so the call is unambiguous. Another point by that player wins the game; a point by the opponent returns the score to deuce. Advantage is not a score of 45 and is not yet a game win.

1. At 40–40, call deuce.
2. A wins the next point: call advantage A.
3. B wins the following point: return to deuce.
4. B then wins two in a row: advantage B, then game B.

Tie-break and no-ad formats differ

Tie-breaks count ordinary consecutive numbers rather than 15, 30 and 40. In an agreed no-ad format, the deciding point at deuce ends the game instead of repeated advantages. Confirm the format before play.