Expert: Joe Rill - 5/5/2006

Question
What is a super tiebreaker

Answer
Hi Seymour,
Thanks for your question.  I was out of town over the week end so I didn't see it until today.  I am sorry for the delay.  The USTA Rules provide for both 7 point and 10 point, match deciding tie breakers (App IV).  As you might guess, they are called a “Deciding Match Tie-Break.”  It is an abbreviated method that replaces the final set in a best of three or five set match.  The main difference between these type tie-breakers and the “Super Tie-Breaker,” is that the USTA rules require the winner to be ahead by two points.  The Super Tie-Breaker that you see most often in USTA League Play, Team Tennis, College Competition and Pro Tennis does not require the winner to be ahead by two points.

A Super-Tie Breaker is used to decide a USTA Team Tennis match if both teams have the same number of games in the total five individual matches (Women's and Men's Singles; Women's and Men's Doubles; and Mixed Doubles).

The Super Tie Breaker is played by the Mixed Doubles team.  A coin toss decides which side serves first.  Each player serves two points in a row starting from the deuce court.  Players change ends after six points.  The first team to score seven (or 10) points wins the Super Tie Breaker.  If the score is 6-6 or 10-10, the team who served the 12th or 20th point will serve the 13th or 21st (Final) point.  Because this is Mixed Doubles, the serve will be “gender-to-gender.”  The winner of the 13th or 21st point wins the Super Tie-Breaker and the match.  You do not have to win by two points.