In a best-of-3 match, a player (or doubles pairing) needs to win 2 out of a maximum possible 3 sets. There are 3 combinations: a player can win in 2 straight sets, they can come from 1 set down to win the last 2, or they can win the first and third sets. A best-of-5 set match finishes when a player has claimed 3 out of a maximum possible 5 sets.

Most tennis matches are played in a best-of-three format, which means that players need to win 2 sets to win the match. In Grand Slams, men play best-of-five sets while women play best-of-three sets. Doubles matches are best-of-3 with a 10-point tiebreak in lieu of the third set. USTA and club matches are usually best-of-3.

Matches on the ATP Tour (and Hologic WTA Tour) are best of three sets. If a player wins the first two sets, the third is not played. At Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open), men play best of five sets, while women play best of three.

The best of three sets format is typically used in smaller tournaments and in early rounds of larger tournaments. In this format, the first player to win two sets is declared the winner. Each set is played until one player reaches six games, with a two-game lead required to win the set.

For men’s and women’s singles, players compete in a best of three-set match format, where the first to win two sets wins the match. However, when it comes to men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles, players compete in a 10-point tiebreaker when reaching a tie score of 1-1 or 1-all.