Scoring
In a tennis game, scores increase according to a sequence of four points: 15, 30, 40, and "game." A score of zero points is known as "love." A player wins a game when he or she scores four points, unless the score is tied at 40. Any time the score is tied, from 40-40 on, the game is considered at "deuce."

In a tie, or deuce, situation the player who scores the next point gains the advantage, or "ad." If the server has the advantage, it is referred to as "ad in;" if the receiver has the advantage, it is called "ad out." To win a game, the player with the advantage has to score the next point, otherwise the score returns to deuce and play continues until one player moves ahead by a margin of two points.

Competition
To win a set, a player must win six games and be ahead by a margin of two games. If the score is tied 6-6, a tiebreaker game is played, unless it is the final set of a match (the third set for women; the fifth set for men). In this case, the final set continues until one competitor moves ahead by two games.

During regular play, the serve alternates between the players after each game. Power serving has become an important aspect of winning tennis. Often a player's ability to win a game depends on his or her ability to "break service," or win a game that the opponent is serving.

General Sports Links
Olympians will compete in dozens of sports this summer. Even though Gateway to the Summer Games can't feature them all, you can learn about each and every one by visiting the sites listed below.

• Griffin Publishing Group's Official Olympic Sports page
  For information straight from the source, click on a sport to connect to its organization's official Web site.
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation News
  This site provides excellent information about Olympic sports and their rules. It also sizes up the best international competitors.
• CBS Sportsline's Olympics 2000
  Get top news stories and in-depth features about every sport.
• CCN/SI
  In addition to news on every sport, this site contains athlete diaries.
• NBCOlympics.com
  Select a sport to study or hear firsthand from an athlete who plays it.
• Sydney 2000
  The official site of the Sydney Olympics covers the events in detail.
• Sydney 2000 Kids' Guide to Olympic Sports
  Visit the Sportzone for sports-related information written especially for young students.
• USOC
  The United States Olympic Committee site includes the rules and history of events as well as athlete bios, diaries, and chats.
• Sydney 2000 Fans
  This unofficial site provides basic description of events and useful links to more information.

Portions of the above text were excerpted from Share the Olympic Dream--Volume II.
(c) 1995 by Griffin Publishing Group/United States Olympic Committee.

For information on purchasing Griffin materials, please visit the Griffin Publishing Group Web site at http://www.griffinpublishing.com.