Point (tennis)

In tennis, a point is the smallest unit of scoring. It represents a single rally from the serve to when the ball is no longer in play according to the rules. A player or team wins a point when their opponent fails to legally return the ball within the boundaries of the court, commits a fault, violates a rule that results in the loss of the point, or the ball bounces more than once on their side of the court.

Winning a sequence of points leads to winning a game, set, and ultimately, the match. The specific number of points required to win a game varies depending on the scoring system being used (e.g., standard scoring, no-ad scoring). The term "point" is fundamental to understanding and following the scoring and flow of a tennis match.