What Is “Deuce” and “Advantage” in Tennis?

This is the part of tennis scoring that gets confusing fast — but it’s also where matches get really good.

“Deuce” means the game is tied at 40–40, and from here on out, you’ve got to win two points in a row to close it out.

1. How It Works

  • If the game reaches 40–40, it’s called deuce.

  • Win the next point? You’ve got advantage (aka ad in if you're the server, or ad out if you're the returner).

  • Win the point after that? You win the game.

  • But if you lose the next point? It's back to deuce.

This can happen once. Or twice. Or, in some chaotic matches, 10+ times. It's part drama, part endurance test.

2. Quick Tip: Who’s Up?

If you hear “Ad In” — it means the server has advantage.
If it’s “Ad Out” — the returner does.

You’ll sometimes just hear the umpire say “Advantage [last name]” — meaning that player is one point from winning the game… again.

👂 Where You’ll Hear It

“They’ve been stuck at deuce for like five minutes.”
Translation: Neither player can win two points in a row. It’s a battle.

“She had four break points, but it kept going back to deuce.”
Translation: She had multiple chances to win the game, but the server kept clutching up under pressure.

📩 Enjoyed this? Subscribe to Love-Love Letter for two fun, 5-minute emails per week — zero jargon, zero pressure.