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Why there is no 45 in tennis?

The scoring was originally done using a clock face - hence 0, 15, 30, 45. But 45 was too long to say so it was changed to 40.

theguardian.com - In tennis, does anybody know why the scoring goes 15 to 30 to 40 etc?

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In tennis, does anybody know why the scoring goes 15 to 30 to 40 etc? Rhys, London UK The usual explanation is that it is based on the quarter-hours of a clock-face, with 45 amended to 40. Seems a bit far-fetched though: 15 is still in there, unchanged to 10 (or 20). Gareth, Llangwyllog Wales Tennis scores were shown in the middle ages on two clock faces which went from 0 to 60. On each score the pointer moved round a quarter from 0 to 15, 30, 45 and a win on 60. Somehow the forty five got truncated to forty when the clock faces dropped out of use. Zero was shown as an oval - an egg shape - 'l'oeuf' in French, giving us 'love' for no points. 'Tennis' probably derives from French 'Tenez!' doug gowan, hornsey uk It follows the clock, I suppose it used to be 45 instead of 40 but it took too long to say Guy, Madrid The scoring was originally done using a clock face - hence 0, 15, 30, 45. But 45 was too long to say so it was changed to 40. Benjy Arnold, London UK It comes from the four quarters of a clock face. "40" was originally "45", but the "5" was dropped over time; presumably three syllables spoilt the rhythm. Joe Myall, Kurume Japan Although the answers given are remarkably similar from differing portions of the globe - I find it difficult to accept. Why would anyone keep score of a sport by looking at a clock face? -and how does "love" apply for a zero score? Bill Spicer, Montreal Canada Bill, since you posted it as a matter of interest, here is the answer to your query. The reason the word love is used to represent zero, is that the circle of the 0 is compared to an egg, hence the french oeuf, corrupted eventually into love. M. Burgess, Shrewsbury England The illogicality of tennis scoring would be alleviated considerably if deuce was declared at 30-30 rather than 40-40. Both scores require one player to win two successive points to win the game. If deuce was declared at 30-30, and the scorelines we now know as 30-40 and 40-30 were called, respectively, advantage out and advantage in, it would make most matches look more closely fought yet make no difference to their duration or outcome. I think I deserve life membership of the All-England club for pointing this out, or at least a couple of Wimbledon centre court tickets. simon collins, New York City USA

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Why is 40 all called deuce in tennis?

Players can be tied at 15 and at 30, but not beyond; 40-all is deemed “deuce” because it is a “deux du jeu” -- two points away from winning the game.

latimes.com - Why is there deuce in tennis? Ask the French - Los Angeles Times

Question: Why is a tennis score of 40-40 called “deuce”?

Answer: Ancient civilizations in Rome, Greece and Egypt have made claim to the sport’s origins, but what we recognize today as tennis is widely accepted to have begun in France. Where else but in the land of romance would athletic measure be articulated in the terms “love” and “deuce” (as in, it takes two)?

During the Middle Ages, French monks hit balls with their hands over a rope stretched across the cloistered quadrangles of their monasteries. What they called jeu de paume (palm game) evolved into “tennis” courtesy of the serving player, who initiated action by shouting “Tenez!” -- roughly, “Take it!” In the game’s incrementally peculiar scoring, the first point is 15 (or 5, if the players went to prep school), the next is 30, the third, 40, then game over, provided the winning margin is two points. Players can be tied at 15 and at 30, but not beyond; 40-all is deemed “deuce” because it is a “deux du jeu” -- two points away from winning the game. The next point remains estranged from the numerical and in league with the verbal, with the winning player deemed to have the “advantage.” If he wins the next point, he wins the game. If the opponent wins, it’s back to deuce. As in baseball, the clock is not a factor in tennis, so the deuce dance can become a marathon. Among professionals, the longest known singles game appears to have occurred at the 1975 Great Britain Championships in Surrey, England. Competitors Anthony Fawcett of then-Rhodesia and Keith Glass of Britain played 37 deuces among 80 total points in a game that lasted 31 minutes. Tenez! Encore. Et encore. Et encore . . .

-- Ellen Alperstein

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