At the US Open, a deciding set tied at 6-6 is settled by a 10-point tiebreak. The first player or doubles team to reach at least 10 points while leading by two wins the match. A 10-9 score does not finish it; play continues to 11-9, 12-10 or another two-point margin.
The rule in one glance
- Trigger: 6-6 in the deciding set
- Target: 10 points
- Winning margin: two points
- Men's singles: used in the fifth set
- Women's singles: used in the third set
- Earlier sets: normally a seven-point tiebreak at 6-6
The four Grand Slam tournaments adopted the same deciding-set format in 2022, ending the confusing period when each major used a different rule.
How service works
The player whose turn it is to serve delivers the first point from the deuce court. The opponent then serves two points, beginning from the advantage court. Service changes every two points after that, and players change ends after every six points.
Tiebreak scoring uses ordinary numbers—1-0, 2-0, 2-1—instead of 15, 30 and 40. The completed deciding set is recorded as 7-6, usually with the tiebreak score shown in brackets.
Why the final-set tiebreak goes to 10
A longer breaker gives both players more opportunities to recover from one early mini-break while still providing a predictable finish. It replaced advantage sets that could continue until one player led by two full games, sometimes creating extremely long matches and scheduling problems.
The format still rewards pressure play. A double fault or loose return at 8-8 can decide the contest, but the extra points make the outcome less dependent on one early mistake than a first-to-seven breaker.
Common questions
Does the tiebreak stop at 10-9?
No. The winner must lead by two. From 9-9, one player must win two more points than the other.
Is every US Open tiebreak played to 10?
No. The 10-point format applies to the deciding set. Standard-set tiebreaks are normally first to seven, also by two.
Is the rule the same at every Grand Slam?
Yes. The Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open all use a 10-point tiebreak at 6-6 in the deciding set.
The shortest answer is: 6-6 triggers the breaker, 10 is the target, and a two-point lead is compulsory.
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