Advantage needs two points from deuce; no-ad needs one.

The rule and version used here

This page applies the ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, in particular Rule 5, Rules 14-27 and Appendix VI. The International Tennis Federation is the international rule-making authority for tennis; the controlling document identifies the body as ITF Limited.

The 2026 edition is the current edition used here as checked on 12 August 2026. The ITF's published 2026 amendment notice changes other provisions but does not amend Rule 5 or the Appendix VI no-ad method. A tournament, league or governing body must still specify which approved scoring method applies to its draw.

How advantage scoring finishes a game

Rule 5 calls the standard method a “standard game.” Love, 15, 30 and 40 represent the first four scoring states. When each player or team has won three points, the score is deuce.

1. The winner of the next point has advantage.
2. If that same side wins the following point, it wins the game.
3. If the other side wins, the score returns to deuce.

It is therefore not enough merely to reach advantage. Rule 5 requires two consecutive points immediately after deuce. The deuce-advantage-deuce loop can repeat without a fixed limit.

“Ad in” and “ad out” are shorthand, not separate rules

Because the server's score is called first, players often say ad in when the server has advantage and ad out when the receiver has advantage. The rules confer no extra serve or other privilege with either phrase.

Formal tour officiating uses the player or team's name: “Advantage [name].” The decisive question is simply who won the point after deuce. If that side loses the next rally, the score is deuce again.

Appendix VI replaces advantage with a deciding point

ITF Appendix VI keeps the normal Love-15-30-40 progression. When both sides have won three points, the score is still called deuce, but there is no advantage score: the next point is the deciding point and its winner wins the game.

No-ad is an approved alternative, not the automatic format for every doubles, junior, college, club or timed match. Its use must come from the regulations or announced conditions for that competition.

The receiver chooses right or left for the deciding point

In no-ad singles, Appendix VI gives the receiver the choice of receiving from the right half or left half of the court. This is a choice of service court, not a change of ends. The server serves diagonally to the chosen court from the corresponding half of the server's end.

This is a real departure from the ordinary alternating pattern in Rule 17. In advantage scoring, the first point after deuce is served from the right half; if the score becomes advantage, the following point is served from the left. In no-ad, the receiver may choose either half for the deciding point.

Court choice does not let the partners swap receivers

In ordinary doubles, the receiving team chooses whether the deciding point will be received in the right or left service court. Rule 15's receiving arrangement then identifies the partner who receives in that court. Appendix VI expressly says the receiving partners cannot change positions to receive the deciding point.

For example, if Team B chooses the left service court, the Team B player assigned to receive on the left receives. The partners cannot choose the left court and then exchange places because they prefer the other player to return.

The ITF method matches the receiver to the server's gender

Appendix VI adds a specific mixed-doubles rule: the player of the same gender as the server receives the deciding point. The receiving partners still may not change positions for that point.

Under this wording, the established receiving positions determine the service court that reaches the required receiver. A competition using a different mixed format or eligibility policy may publish a different procedure, so its regulations must be checked rather than importing the ITF mixed-doubles provision by assumption.

No-ad changes the game margin, not every scoring rule

• Serving: the ordinary first-serve, second-serve, fault and foot-fault rules still apply.
• Rallies: the usual point, let, hindrance and good-return rules decide the rally.
• Games in the set: a no-ad game counts as one completed game, just like an advantage game.
• Set and match format: short sets and match tie-breaks are separate Appendix VI alternatives. An organiser may combine them with no-ad, but no-ad alone does not create either one.
• Service lets: no-ad does not itself create the no-let rule; that is another separately approved alternative.

Resolve any deuce game in five checks

1. Identify the event and draw. Singles and doubles at the same tournament may use different game scoring.
2. Confirm the announced method. Use standard advantage scoring unless the applicable regulations select no-ad or another authorised format.
3. Count the points. Three points each is deuce under both methods.
4. Apply the chosen method. Advantage requires two consecutive points; no-ad requires one deciding point.
5. For no-ad, identify the receiver. Apply court choice, the established doubles receiving order, and the ITF mixed-doubles restriction where relevant.

An advantage disappears on the next point

Situation: at deuce, the receiver wins the next point and has advantage. The server then wins the following rally.

ITF 2026 ruling: deuce again, not game to either side. The receiver did not win the two consecutive points Rule 5 requires.

A first fault does not reopen the receiver's choice

Situation: in ITF no-ad singles, the receiver chooses the left service court at deuce. The first serve to that court is a fault.

ITF 2026 ruling: the server takes the second serve to the same chosen court. It remains the same deciding point; the winner of the completed point wins the game.

A doubles team chooses the court, not a new receiver

Situation: at deuce in no-ad doubles, the receiving team chooses the right service court but wants the partner stationed on the left to cross over and return.

ITF 2026 ruling: the partner assigned to receive on the right must receive. Appendix VI prohibits changing positions for the deciding point.

A mixed-doubles server determines the eligible receiver

Situation: a woman is serving the deciding point in a mixed-doubles match using the ITF Appendix VI procedure.

ITF 2026 ruling: the woman on the receiving team receives. The partners may not swap positions to change that receiver.

Completed points normally stand, but the event may supply more procedure

ITF Rule 27 begins with a general principle: when a rules error is discovered, points already played stand. For a doubles receiving-order error, Rule 27(e) keeps the altered order through the end of that game, then restores the original order for the team's next receiving game in the set.

The 2026 Rules do not provide a separate paragraph for every possible mistake between advantage and no-ad scoring. Where officials are appointed, Appendix VII makes the referee the final authority on questions of tennis law. An event's regulations or officiating code may add a correction procedure; players should not assume that a local remedy applies universally.

Professional singles and doubles can use different methods

The international rules authorise the method; each circuit's current regulations select it. Two prominent 2026 examples show why the draw matters:

• ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour: ATP Rule 1.02(B) requires no-ad games in doubles, alongside two tie-break sets and a 10-point match tie-break at one set all. That provision is for the ATP competitions named there, not all men's tennis.
• WTA tournaments: WTA Rulebook 2026, Section XVIII.A.39, applies no-ad scoring to the first two sets of main-draw doubles and uses a 10-point match tie-break as the third set. WTA singles use best-of-three tie-break sets under the standard ITF rules, subject to any WTA-authorised alternative.

Grand Slams, national associations, college tennis, junior circuits, leagues and local events publish their own appointed formats. Check the event fact sheet or regulations instead of inferring the method from the players' age, level or whether the match is doubles.

Five claims that produce the wrong ruling

• “No-ad has no deuce.” ITF Appendix VI still calls three points all “Deuce”; it removes the advantage stage.
• “The server chooses the deciding-point court.” Under the ITF method, the receiver or receiving team chooses, subject to the mixed-doubles rule.
• “Doubles court choice means either partner may return.” The partners cannot change positions for the deciding point.
• “No-ad is a one-point tie-break.” It is a deciding point within an ordinary game. ITF tie-break games use numeric scoring and normally require a two-point margin.
• “No-ad also means no-let and a match tie-break.” Those are separate format choices.

Governing-body sources and effective versions

• International Tennis Federation — Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 5, Rules 14-27, and Appendices VI-VII
• International Tennis Federation — 2026 Amendments to the Rules of Tennis and Rules of Beach Tennis
• ATP — 2026 Official Rulebook, updated 27 April 2026, Rule 1.02(B), match formats for ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour
• WTA — 2026 Official Rulebook (as updated 26 June 2026), Section XVIII.A.39, Scoring System

Checked on 12 August 2026 against the ITF's current English rules and 2026 amendment notice, plus the cited ATP and WTA competition rules. The ITF baseline permits no-ad; the appointed competition regulations decide whether it is used and may add authorised variations.