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Why do they say love all play?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 24, 2026

In tennis, love is a word that represents a score of zero, and has been used as such since the late 1800s. It's not perfectly clear how this usage of love came to be, but the most accepted theory is that those with zero points were still playing for the "love of the game" despite their losing score.

Why is it called love all?

For the unfamiliar, tennis starts with both players at zero, called love: “Love-all.” One person scores: 15 to love. The server's score is said first, the receiver's second. The other now scores, and they're tied at “15-all.” The next point is 30, then 40, and the following point wins that game.

Why do we say 15 love in tennis?

"Love" means zero. In tennis, the server's score is given first, so "love-fifteen" means the server has no points, the opponent has fifteen. The score in a tennis game progresses from love to fifteen to thirty to forty to game.

Why is 0 0 Called Love all?

In French, an egg is “L'Œuf”, which is pronounced very close to “Love”. That's why “Love” is the score 0 in table tennis. 0 = “Egg” = “L'Œuf” (French) Pronounced as “Love”.

What does love and all mean in tennis?

When a match starts, the score is zero-zero; in the tennis world, that's called “love all.” There are a couple of theories on why. One is that the number zero has an oval shape, just like an egg.

18 related questions found

What the score is called when it is 40 40?

WHAT IS A DEUCE? The only time this is different is when both you and your opponent have won three points each and the score is 40-40. This is called deuce. When the score reaches deuce, one player or team will need to win at least two points in a row to win the game.

What happens if both players reach a score of 40?

If both players reach 40, this is known as deuce (not 40-all). A player has to score two consecutive points to win the game following deuce.

What is let tennis?

Let – a serve is called a let when the ball hits the net cord but still lands in the service court. Such a serve is not considered a fault and the server may repeat the service attempt.

What does icing mean in tennis?

This sort of behavior would clearly be considered unsportsmanlike: getting into a player's head, forcing him to break his rhythm thus becoming cold—iced—does not treat one's opponent with the respect inherent in a fair competition.

What do we call a shot in which a player hits the ball before it bounces on the court during a rally?

Volley - a shot where the ball is hit by the player's racquet before the ball hits the ground.

Why is the scoring in tennis so weird?

It is believed that tennis scores in the very early days were shown on two clock faces. As each person scored, the clock face was moved around 25% or 15 minutes, from 15 to 30, then 45, and finally the win on 60.

Why is it 40 not 45 in tennis?

When the hand moved to 60, the game was over. However, in order to ensure that the game could not be won by a one-point difference in players' scores, the idea of "deuce" was introduced. To make the score stay within the "60" ticks on the clock face, the 45 was changed to 40.

Do you say love in squash?

Quick Reference. (in tennis, squash, and some other sports) a score of zero; nil. This usage apparently comes from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money); folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero.

What is the origin of the game racket?

Historians generally assert that rackets began as an 18th-century pastime in London's King's Bench and Fleet debtors' prisons. The prisoners modified the game of fives by using tennis rackets to speed up the action. They played against the prison wall, sometimes at a corner to add a sidewall to the game.

What is the side of the court called if you are serving from the right?

Scores v Service Side

As the first service is always from the right side of the court, to the opponents right side, knowing where you are serving from can help you remember the score, and vice versa. The Ad Court is the left side for the player, and the Deuce Court is the right side (see more tennis terms).

What does zero mean in tennis?

Love – A term used in tennis instead of the word 'nil' or 'zero'. It is used to describe a lack of score in either points, games or sets.

What happens if tennis players need the toilet?

What are the new rules? Starting next season, players on the men's ATP Tour will be limited to one bathroom break of no more than three minutes per match. The clock will start ticking when a player reaches the bathroom, and time violations will be enforced if he is not ready within the allowed time.

Why do teams ice the kicker?

In the sports of American football or Canadian football, the act of icing the kicker or freezing the kicker is the act of calling a timeout immediately prior to the snap in order to disrupt the process of kicking a field goal.

What is the bathroom rule in tennis?

Players will be allowed one bathroom break per match and can only be taken at the end of a set, while an additional two minutes will be allowed for a change of clothes.

What is volleyball Let?

A let serve in volleyball occurs when the delivered ball hits the top of the net in the middle of the court, but still makes it over the net and to the opponent's side of the floor. Prior to 2001, a let serve was considered to be a service error.

Why is it called an ace in tennis?

As ever with words that have been in use for a long time, the root of the term 'ace' is not entirely clear. The most likely explanation is the fact that the ace is the most valuable and powerful card in a deck of playing cards, and it hence carries an implication of excellence.

What is a netball in tennis?

Definition of net ball

(Entry 1 of 2) 1 : a ball that on the service (as in tennis and volleyball) strikes the top of the net and lands in the service court but must be served over — compare let entry 2 sense 2. 2 : a ball that during play in tennis is hit into the net for loss of point. netball.

What is short deuce?

5 SHORT DEUCE: means the score is 40-40 and ONE point after reaching deuce will decide the game. The receiver/s can choose which side they want to play the final point from.

Why do some tennis sets go to 7?

In order to win a set in the tennis scoring system, you have to win 6 games. If both opponents have 5 games though, then the set will go to 7.

How many serve does each player have in an 11 point game?

Each player gets 2 serves, and it alternates until one of the players scores 11 points, unless there is a deuce (10:10). In that case, each player gets only one serve and it alternates until one of the players gets a two point lead.