How do tie-breaks work at Australian Open 2023? Is it first to 10 points? What are final set rules at Grand Slams?

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Published 17/01/2023 at 14:37 GMT

How does tie-break scoring work at the Australian Open and other Grand Slams? How are final sets decided and how do 10-point tie-breaks work? Andy Murray came through a 10-point break in the fifth set to secure a memorable victory over Matteo Berrettini in Melbourne. We run through everything you need to know about tie-break scoring and how the format works.

How does tie-break scoring work at the Australian Open and other Grand Slam tournaments?

The scoring system has changed in recent years and in final sets there is no longer the possibility for matches to continue on with no end in sight as they have done in the past.

We explain everything you need to know about the tie-break rules and how matches are now decided at Grand Slams.

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What are the tie-break rules at the Australian Open?

Tie-breaks occur in tennis when a set reaches 6-6 in games.

It is then the first player to win seven points in the tie-break with at least a two-point margin (i.e. 7-5, 7-4, 7-3) who wins the set. If there is not a two-point margin when a player reaches seven points then the tie-break continues until there is a two-point margin (i.e. 8-6, 9-7, 10-8) to decide the winner.

After a player starts the tie-break with one point on serve, serving alternates in the tie-break with each player having two points on serve before switching back and forth

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Tie-break rules in the final sets at Grand Slam have changed in the last few years.

There is no longer the possibility to play marathon matches as John Isner and Nicolas Mahut did at Wimbledon in 2010 when they slugged it out for 11 hours over several days. It used to be the case that at some Grand Slam tournaments the final sets would continue past 6-6 until a player opened up a two-game margin.

But in 2019 the Australian Open was the first of the four Grand Slams to implement a 10-point tie-break rule in the final set when the score reaches 6-6 in games.

Last year the other three Grand Slams – the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – decided to follow the same rule.

“Further to extensive consultation with the WTA, ATP, ITF and tennis officiating community, the Grand Slam Board’s decision is based on a strong desire to create greater consistency in the rules of the game at the grand slams, and thus enhance the experience for the players and fans alike,” read a joint statement.

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How does a 10-point tie-break work?

A 10-point tie-break follows a similar format to a standard tie-break.

One player starts off the tie-break with a point on serve, then the other player has two points on serve, and it then alternates between each player having two points on serve. The winner is the first player to reach 10 points with at least a two-point winning margin. If a player gets to 10 and there isn’t a two-point margin then the tie-break continues and when there is a two-point margin achieved that player is the winner.

Andy Murray won a 10-point tie-break to complete a five-set win over Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the 2023 Australian Open.

Speaking afterwards Murray said: “‘It’s the first time I’ve played a 10-point tie-breaker, it’s a bit different.

“It feels like you’re still quite far away even when you’re 5-0 or 6-1 up. He came back strong and I got a bit lucky with the net cord. Some of the tennis at the end was really good, it felt like that anyway.

“He was serving unbelievable, he’s a brilliant competitor, he always fights right until the end and I did well to get through.”

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How does set scoring work at the Australian Open?

As with the other three Grand Slams, women’s singles matches are best-of-three sets and men’s singles matches are best-of-five matches.

The first person to reach six games wins a set, but like with a tie-break there must be a two-game margin. If the set reaches 5-5 then it can only be won 7-5 or in a tie-break.

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Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk

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