NBA vs ATP Scoring

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Lee Couillard, USPTA, Head Tennis Professional, Punahou School, Honolulu, HI expands upon the difference in the scoring system in tennis vs other sports.

The scoring system in tennis is much more challenging than in any other sport because of the emphasis on the importance of certain points at certain times in each game and set. Also, the value of certain points are greater if they are converted as in case of break points won. Note that it is not the number of break points that matters, however, it is the number of break points in different games that counts, especially if they have NOT been converted. This can be emotionally devastating.

Even though there is no time clock and points are not accumulating like in a basketball or football game, there are very few instances where the player that won had less points than the runner-up, so it is possible to lose more points that your opponent and still win the match. So, it is important to not fall too far behind on the total count. To make basketball similar to tennis, and to make it more exciting, they could give bonus points for leading after each quarter. Now the pressure would be on and you would see a quicker pace at the end of each quarter and a higher degree of intensity.

In this video, Federer came within 2 points of equaling the total amount of points won, however, he could not find enough energy to come back and tie the score and then move ahead in total points won. He trailed in total points won since the start of the second set.