tennis glossary
What is a Love in Tennis?
Love is the tennis word for a score of zero. Origin debated — possibly from the French "l'oeuf" (the egg, for the round zero shape) or from "playing for love" (without prize money). Used at any zero-score: love-15, 30-love, etc.
Example in a match
You serve and win the first point. The score is "15-love" — your 15, opponent's zero.
Tennis scoring with Volley
Volley scores tennis with all the standard rules built in. Pick the sport at match setup, name your sides, and tap to score. Volley applies the rules from there — including the ones that involve "Love".
Free on iOS and Android. Multi-sport scoring across 9 sports with proper sport-specific scoring engines, ELO rating tracking, and tournament running.
Frequently asked questions
What is a love in tennis?
Love is the tennis word for a score of zero. Origin debated — possibly from the French "l'oeuf" (the egg, for the round zero shape) or from "playing for love" (without prize money). Used at any zero-score: love-15, 30-love, etc.
Does Volley handle love automatically?
Yes. Volley's tennis scoring engine handles every standard rule including love. You don't have to track it manually — pick the sport at match setup and Volley applies the rules.
Where can I learn more tennis terms?
The full Tennis glossary is at /tennis-terms-glossary, with 20 of the most common terms explained.