Coman Set Tie-Breaker

The tie-breaker was created to replace the traditional rules whereby a player had to win a set by a two game margin with at least six games. Matches could literally go on for days with set scores such as 16-14, 9-7, 6-8, 15-17, 6-2 …. A true match score at a Wimbledon match earlier this century!!

At 6 games all here are the rules:

  1. The tie-breaker will be considered the 13th game of the set.
  2. The player that served the first game of the set will start the tie-breaker.
  3. That player will serve one point in the deuce court, thereafter both players will serve twice, always beginning their turn in the add court. REMEMBER, ODD NUMBERED SCORES (i.e. 3-2) WILL BE SERVED IN THE ADD COURT.
  4. Server is responsible for calling out the score before each point in a manner the receiver can hear. Server calls their score first, just like in a regular game. Look for confirmation from the receiver of the score before beginning each point, as confusion can happen fast.
  5. Players shall change ends after the first point and then after every four points and at the end of the tie-breaker. Change ends after points 1,5,9,13,17…… and at the conclusion. No water break or rest period is allowed during this court side change.
  6. THE OBJECT OF THE TIE-BREAKER IS TO WIN 7 POINTS WITH A MARGIN OF TWO POINTS. EXAMPLES OF TIE-BREAK SCORES ARE 7-2, 7-5, 9-7, 13-11.
  7. As the tie-breaker is considered the 13th game of the set, when the tie-breaker is won both players take a 90 second court changeover rest, changing sides for the beginning of the new set. The player who started the tie-breaker (i.e. the player who started the last set) will receive the first game of the next set. Play one game, rest and change sides again.

Coman Match Tie-Breaker

A Coman match tie-breaker is played when the score of the match is one set all. The rules are the same except the object of the tie-breaker is to win 10 points with a margin of two points. Examples of the tie-break scores are 10-2, 10-8, 11-9, 15-13. The winner of the match tie-breaker wins the match. Note: If the previous set did not go to a tie-break, the order of service continues. If the previous set went to a tie-break, the player or team that served first in the Set tie-break receives first in the Match Tie-break.

Note:

If players accidentally forget to switch after the first point, play will continue using the standard procedure. If players play one point, switch and then accidentally forget to switch after the 5th point or the 9th etc., the point played incorrectly will stand, make the correction and continue playing the tie-breaker using the Coman method.

used with permission from Western Wake Tennis Association