Wimbledon 2026 final set tiebreak rules: How does the scoring system work?

Wimbledon 2026 will see the continued use of a 10-point tiebreak system to decide matches that reach 6-6 in the final set, a rule introduced in 2022. This system differs significantly from the traditional 7-point tiebreaks used in previous years.

The tiebreak is triggered if the score in the final set reaches 6-6. This is the fifth set for men and the third set for women. Instead of a traditional 7-point tiebreak, the final set uses a 10-point tiebreak, often called a match or super tiebreak. The first player or doubles team to reach 10 points wins the match.

Like a standard tiebreak, the winner must win by at least two clear points. Examples of winning scores include 10-8, 11-9, or 15-13.

The serving sequence follows specific rules. The player whose turn it is to serve starts the tiebreak by serving one point from the Deuce right side. After that first point, the service alternates between opponents every two points. Each player serves two consecutive points, starting from the Ad left side then the Deuce right side for the remainder of the tiebreak.

Players change ends of the court after every six points are played, for instance when the total score is 3-3, 6-6, or 9-3.

This format was adopted after Wimbledon's historic fifth-set tiebreak on July 14, 2019, during the men's singles final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Those initial tiebreaks were 7-point tiebreaks. When the fifth set reached 12-12, a tiebreak was played and Djokovic defeated Federer. The rule change to 10-point tiebreaks was announced in 2022 and has remained in place since.