Why Wimbledon umpires use the words 'love' and 'deuce' when scoring matches

Home> Tennis

Why Wimbledon umpires use the words 'love' and 'deuce' when scoring matches

Wimbledon umpires use the terms regularly when they are scoring tennis matches but what is the reason behind it?

This article contains affiliate links and LADbible Group will make a commission on anything purchased

Wimbledon is in full flow once again, with fans enjoying all tennis action at the All England Club - where Carlos Alcaraz is looking to make it a historic three triumphs in a row.

Huge celebrities like David Beckham, Olivia Rodrigo and John Cena have been in attendance at the Royal Box in recent times.

But for any casual viewers who have been tuning in, there are a lot of terms which many may be unfamiliar with their meaning - particularly when it comes to the umpire calling the scores.

In a bitesize article, the BBC explained the history behind some of the terms and why they are a key part of tennis coverage.

What does 'Love' mean in tennis terms?

Typically the definition of love would be in relation to affection or liking something very much but when racquets are involved, it isn't the case.

Love basically means being scoreless but it comes from zero, when written as a figure, looking like a duck or goose egg - something which nil referred to in sport.

In addition, 'l’oeuf' is the French word for egg and that sounds similar to love in English.

Andy Murray celebrates winning a point at Wimbledon. Image: Getty
Andy Murray celebrates winning a point at Wimbledon. Image: Getty

What does 'Deuce' mean in tennis and where does it come from?

The Frenchness in tennis is also present when it comes to 'deuce', which is another word uttered by umpires and commentators.

While deuces up can be a hand gesture to signal goodbye, tennis-wise deuce refers to the situation where the scores are level at 40-40.

At this stage a player must win by two clear points - taking a step towards doing so after gaining advantage by claiming the first point.

According to the BBC, deuce is derived from the French word deux de jeux, which means two games.

Where to buy Wimbledon tickets

The Wimbledon ballot may have closed for another year, but it’s not too late to buy advance tickets if you know where to look.

If you don’t mind splashing out on the experience, Seat Unique has the option to book ‘VIP Debenture Behind The Server’ and ‘VIP Debenture Front 5 Rows’ tickets.

These tickets offer 'unparalleled views' of the court, so you won't miss out on any of the action.

As for resale tickets, you'll want to head over to StubHub and Viagogo.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Wimbledon, Tennis