how many sets in doubles tennis

Most standard doubles tennis matches are played as best of 3 sets, meaning a team needs to win 2 sets to win the match.

Basic doubles format

• In regular professional and club doubles, teams usually play best of 3 sets.

• Each set is typically first to 6 games, win by 2, with a tiebreak at 6–6.

Variations you might see

• In many leagues and tournaments, if teams split the first two sets, they play a 10‑point match tiebreak instead of a full third set to save time.

• Some professional men’s doubles at certain events (especially historically or at specific tournaments) may be best of 5 sets, though this is now uncommon.

Grand Slam doubles

• At the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open, men’s and women’s doubles are generally best of 3 full sets.

• Wimbledon is the main exception: men’s doubles there are played best of 5 sets.

So for most situations, if you join or watch a doubles match, expect best of 3 sets, with the occasional long-format exception at specific pro events.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.