Tie Break Tens

Tie Break Tens^[1] is the short tennis format in which only tie-break matches are played. There are no games or sets, only tie-break matches and the winner is the first player to reach 10 points and lead by a margin of two. Most other traditional rules of tennis are the same. The winner-take-all prize money is usually US$250,000 for each tournament which also support a charity partner. It is a short-format version of tennis, similar to other alternative forms of traditional sports, such as T20 Cricket and rugby sevens.^[2]

The inaugural Tie Break Tens tournament took place at the Royal Albert Hall on 5 December 2015. It was won by Kyle Edmund who beat Andy Murray in the finals.^[3]

Since then, tournaments have been played in Vienna, Madrid, Melbourne, New York, Indian Wells and Dubai with the world's current top tennis professionals competing for the grand prize.

Rules

Tie Break Tens is played using traditional tie-break rules. Players win by reaching 10 points (provided that they have a clear margin of two points). Rock-paper-scissors determines who serves first, and from which end of the court they play. The player who wins the toss, serves first. The other player then serves twice, and with the rest of the match continues with the players alternating serves every two points. Players change ends after every six points. Players are allowed an unlimited number of line-call challenges using review technology during each match, until an incorrect challenge is made. After this, no more challenges are allowed until the next match.

Format

A knock-out format is used, with quarterfinals, semifinals and final.

2015: London

The inaugural Tie Break Tens^[4] tournament took place on 5 December 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. A round-robin format was used, with six players divided into two groups of three. It was staged in partnership with Champions Tennis and promoted by  IMG  with a winner-take-all prize of $250,000. Andy Murray, John McEnroe, Tim Henman, David Ferrer, Kyle Edmund and Champions Tennis qualifier  Xavier Malisse  participated in the competition. In the final, Edmund defeated Andy Murray 10-7 and took away the $250,000 prize, more than doubling his earnings for 2015.

Men's singles

	Group 1	Henman	McEnroe	Malisse	Match W–L	Point W–L	Differential	Standings
	Tim Henman		10–7	5–10	1–1	15–17	-2	2
	John McEnroe	7–10		7–10	0–2	14–20	-6	3
Q	Xavier Malisse	10–5	10–7		2–0	20–12	+8	1

	Group 2	Murray	Ferrer	Edmund	Match W–L	Point W–L	Differential	Standings
	Andy Murray		10–4	10–7	2–0	20–11	+9	1
	David Ferrer	4–10		3–10	0–2	7–20	-13	3
	Kyle Edmund	7–10	10–3		1–1	17–13	+4	2

	Semifinals					Final
	Q	Xavier Malisse	4
		Kyle Edmund	10
							Kyle Edmund	10
							Andy Murray	7
		Andy Murray	10
		Tim Henman	1

Source: Tie Break Tens^[5][6]

2016: Vienna

Tie Break Tens took place on 23 October 2016, the opening weekend of the Erste Bank Open 500 in Vienna.^[7] Andy Murray, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Dominic Thiem, Tommy Haas, Goran Ivanišević and Marcus Willis competed.^[8] It also was competed as a round-robin. Dominic Thiem won, defeating Andy Murray 10–5 in the Final.^[9]

Men's singles

	Group A	Thiem	Tsonga	Haas	Match W–L	Point W–L	Differential	Standings
	Dominic Thiem		10–4	10–3	2–0	20–7	+13	1
	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	4–10		10–6	1–1	14–16	-2	2
	Tommy Haas	3–10	6–10		0–2	9–20	-11	3

	Group B	Murray	Willis	Ivanišević	Match W–L	Point W–L	Differential	Standings
	Andy Murray		10–3	10–7	2–0	20–10	+10	1
	Marcus Willis	3–10		8–10	0–2	11–20	-9	3
	Goran Ivanišević	7–10	10–8		1–1	17–18	-1	2

	Semifinals				Final
	Dominic Thiem	10
	Goran Ivanišević	5
					Dominic Thiem	10
					Andy Murray	5
	Andy Murray	10
	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	7			Third place match
					Goran Ivanišević	8
					Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	10

Source: Tie Break Tens^[10][11]

2017: Madrid

Tie Break Tens Tens took place at the Caja Mágica in Madrid on 4 May 2017.^[12] It featured both men's and women's tournaments for the first time. Grigor Dimitrov won the men's title with Simona Halep taking the women's title.^[13] The knock-out format debuted here and has been used ever since.

Men's singles

Stan Wawrinka, Grigor Dimitrov, Lucas Pouille, Feliciano López, Dan Evans, Tomáš Berdych, Jack Sock and Fernando Verdasco competed in the men's tournament. Dimitrov defeated Lopez in the final.

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	Grigor Dimitrov		14
	Dan Evans		12
						Grigor Dimitrov		10
						Fernando Verdasco		8
	Lucas Pouille		6
	Fernando Verdasco		10
											Grigor Dimitrov		10
											Feliciano López		7
	Tomáš Berdych		12
	Jack Sock		10
						Tomáš Berdych		8
						Feliciano López		10
	Stan Wawrinka		1
	Feliciano López		10

Source: Tie Break Tens^[14]

Women's singles

Maria Sharapova, Garbiñe Muguruza, Agnieszka Radwańska, Johanna Konta, Simona Halep, Madison Keys, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Monica Puig played in the women's competition with Halep defeating Kuznetsova in the final.

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	Madison Keys		10
	Svetlana Kuznetsova		12
						Svetlana Kuznetsova		10
						Agnieszka Radwańska		6
	Agnieszka Radwańska		10
	Garbiñe Muguruza		5
											Svetlana Kuznetsova		6
											Simona Halep		10
	Johanna Konta		2
	Simona Halep		10
						Simona Halep		10
						Monica Puig		5
	Monica Puig		10
	Maria Sharapova		6

Source: Tie Break Tens^[15]

2018: Melbourne

The first Tie Break Tens competition of 2018 was played on 10 January at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, Australia.^[16] It featured an 8-player men's singles tournament.

Men's singles

Initially, 5 of the 8 players were confirmed: Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka (withdrew, replaced by Milos Raonic) and former tennis player Lleyton Hewitt.^[17] Later, Dominic Thiem, Tomáš Berdych and Lucas Pouille also announced their participation, thus completing the field. Tomáš Berdych won the $250,000 prize defeating Nadal in the final 10–5.^[18]

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	Lleyton Hewitt		10
	Novak Djokovic		6
						Lleyton Hewitt		11
						Rafael Nadal		13
	Lucas Pouille		1
	Rafael Nadal		10
											Rafael Nadal		5
											Tomáš Berdych		10
	Tomáš Berdych		10
	Nick Kyrgios		8
						Tomáš Berdych		11
						Milos Raonic		9
	Milos Raonic		10
	Dominic Thiem		7

Source: Tie Break Tens^[19]

2018: New York

The women's only tournament was played on 5 March 2018 in New York City at Madison Square Garden. This was the first time the competition had been staged in the United States.

Women's singles

It featured an 8-player woman's singles tournament including Serena Williams, Venus Williams, CoCo Vandeweghe, Daniela Hantuchová, Elina Svitolina, Marion Bartoli, Shuai Zhang and Sorana Cîrstea.^[20]

It marked the return of Serena Williams playing her first singles competition since giving birth to her daughter.^[21]

Svitolina from Ukraine won the $250 000 winner-takes-all prize defeating Zhang in the final 10–3.^[22]

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	CoCo Vandeweghe		10
	Daniela Hantuchová		7
						CoCo Vandeweghe		0
						Elina Svitolina		10
	Venus Williams		3
	Elina Svitolina		10
											Elina Svitolina		10
											Zhang Shuai		3
	Marion Bartoli		5
	Serena Williams		10
						Serena Williams		11
						Zhang Shuai		13
	Sorana Cîrstea		4
	Zhang Shuai		10

2019: Indian Wells

The men's singles tournament was played on 5 March 2019 at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. This was their first competition at Indian Wells.^{[citation needed]}

Men's singles

It was an 8-player men's singles tournament including Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka, Gaël Monfils, Milos Raonic, Taylor Fritz, Rafael Nadal, Marin Čilić and David Goffin. The tournament was played in Stadium 2 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, in front of 8,000 people.

Raonic won the $150,000 prize by defeating Wawrinka 10–6 in the final.^[23]

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	Marin Čilić		11
	David Goffin		9
						Marin Čilić		3
						Milos Raonic		10
	Milos Raonic		10
	Gaël Monfils		7
											Milos Raonic		10
											Stan Wawrinka		6
	Dominic Thiem		5
	Stan Wawrinka		10
						Stan Wawrinka		13
						Rafael Nadal		11
	Taylor Fritz		8
	Rafael Nadal		10

2021: Dubai

Men's singles

A men's singles tournament was played in Dubai on 22 October 2021 with AED 500,000 winner take all prize money at the Coca-Cola Arena.^[24] The 8 players were Gaël Monfils, Dan Evans, Taylor Fritz, Ramkumar Ramanathan, Zizou Bergs, Dustin Brown, Simon Roberts and Benjamin Hassan.^[25]

The winner of the tournament was Zizou Bergs from Belgium, who overcame Taylor Fitz after saving a championship point, 11–9.

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	Gaël Monfils		11
	Benjamin Hassan		9
						Gaël Monfils		9
						Zizou Bergs		11
	Zizou Bergs		10
	Dustin Brown		6
											Zizou Bergs		11
											Taylor Fritz		9
	Taylor Fritz		10
	Simon Roberts		3
						Taylor Fritz		10
						Dan Evans		7
	Ramkumar Ramanathan		7
	Dan Evans		10

2022: Indian Wells

Women's singles

The 2022 tournament was organized as a women's singles event and was played on 8 March 2022 in honor of International Women's Day. The event was held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the second time, ahead of the 2022 Indian Wells Masters. The eight-player field originally included Paula Badosa, Leylah Fernandez, Simona Halep, Ons Jabeur, Barbora Krejčíková, Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka, and Maria Sakkari. Amanda Anisimova later replaced Krejčíková after she withdrew following an elbow injury.^[26][27][28] Anisimova won the event and claimed US$150,000 in prize money.^[29]

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	Simona Halep		7
	Aryna Sabalenka		10
						Aryna Sabalenka		5
						Maria Sakkari		10
	Ons Jabeur		6
	Maria Sakkari		10
											Maria Sakkari		7
											Amanda Anisimova		10
	Leylah Fernandez		3
	Paula Badosa		10
						Paula Badosa		6
						Amanda Anisimova		10
	Amanda Anisimova		10
	Naomi Osaka		3

2023: Indian Wells

Mixed doubles

The 2023 tournament was organized as the event's first mixed doubles tournament and was played on 7 March 2023. It was held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, ahead of the 2023 Indian Wells Open. Emma Raducanu was scheduled to play with Cameron Norrie but withdrew before the tournament.^[30] The eight-team field included:^[31][32]

1. Aryna Sabalenka / Taylor Fritz (champions)
2. Iga Świątek / Hubert Hurkacz (final)
3. Paula Badosa / Cameron Norrie (quarterfinals)
4. Leylah Fernandez / Félix Auger-Aliassime (quarterfinals)
5. Ons Jabeur / Casper Ruud (semifinals)
6. Jessica Pegula / Tommy Paul (quarterfinals)
7. Maria Sakkari / Stefanos Tsitsipas (semifinals)
8. Belinda Bencic / Stan Wawrinka (quarterfinals)

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	Maria Sakkari Stefanos Tsitsipas		12
	Paula Badosa Cameron Norrie		10
						Maria Sakkari Stefanos Tsitsipas		7
						Iga Świątek Hubert Hurkacz		10
	Leylah Fernandez Félix Auger-Aliassime		6
	Iga Świątek Hubert Hurkacz		10
											Iga Świątek Hubert Hurkacz		8
											Aryna Sabalenka Taylor Fritz		10
	Ons Jabeur Casper Ruud		10
	Jessica Pegula Tommy Paul		5
						Ons Jabeur Casper Ruud		8
						Aryna Sabalenka Taylor Fritz		10
	Aryna Sabalenka Taylor Fritz		10
	Belinda Bencic Stan Wawrinka		4

2024: Indian Wells

Mixed doubles

The 2024 tournament was organized as the event's second mixed doubles tournament and was played on 5 March 2024. It was held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for a third consecutive year, ahead of the 2024 Indian Wells Open.^[33]

Before the tournament, Jessica Pegula was partnered with Tommy Paul and Elena Rybakina was partnered with Andrey Rublev; both Pegula and Rybakina withdrew and were replaced by Sloane Stephens and Maria Sakkari, respectively.^[34] The eight-team field included:

1. Aryna Sabalenka / Taylor Fritz (quarterfinals)
2. Iga Świątek / Hubert Hurkacz (quarterfinals)
3. Paula Badosa / Stefanos Tsitsipas (final)
4. Caroline Wozniacki / Holger Rune (semifinals)
5. Maria Sakkari / Andrey Rublev (quarterfinals)
6. Sloane Stephens / Tommy Paul (quarterfinals)
7. Zheng Qinwen / Frances Tiafoe (semifinals)
8. Emma Navarro / Ben Shelton (champions)

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	Maria Sakkari Andrey Rublev		9
	Emma Navarro Ben Shelton		11
						Emma Navarro Ben Shelton		10
						Caroline Wozniacki Holger Rune		5
	Aryna Sabalenka Taylor Fritz		7
	Caroline Wozniacki Holger Rune		10
											Emma Navarro Ben Shelton		10
											Paula Badosa Stefanos Tsitsipas		8
	Sloane Stephens Tommy Paul		8
	Zheng Qinwen Frances Tiafoe		10
						Zheng Qinwen Frances Tiafoe		3
						Paula Badosa Stefanos Tsitsipas		10
	Iga Świątek Hubert Hurkacz		2
	Paula Badosa Stefanos Tsitsipas		10

2025: Indian Wells

Mixed doubles

The 2025 tournament was organized as the short formats' third mixed doubles tournament and was played on 4 March 2025 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for a fourth consecutive year, ahead of the 2025 Indian Wells Open.^[35] Amanda Anisimova and Daniil Medvedev replaced Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas prior to the event.^[36]

The eight-team field included:

1. Emma Navarro / Ben Shelton (semifinals)
2. Elena Rybakina / Taylor Fritz (champions)
3. Madison Keys / Tommy Paul (final)
4. Amanda Anisimova / Daniil Medvedev (quarterfinals)
5. Katie Boulter / Alex de Minaur (quarterfinals)
6. Maria Sakkari / Casper Ruud (quarterfinals)
7. Iga Świątek / Hubert Hurkacz (semifinals)
8. Jasmine Paolini / Lorenzo Musetti (quarterfinals)

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	Iga Świątek Hubert Hurkacz		10
	Jasmine Paolini Lorenzo Musetti		6
						Iga Świątek Hubert Hurkacz		8
						Madison Keys Tommy Paul		10
	Madison Keys Tommy Paul		10
	Maria Sakkari Casper Ruud		6
											Madison Keys Tommy Paul		4
											Elena Rybakina Taylor Fritz		10
	Amanda Anisimova Daniil Medvedev		4
	Elena Rybakina Taylor Fritz		10
						Elena Rybakina Taylor Fritz		10
						Emma Navarro Ben Shelton		6
	Emma Navarro Ben Shelton		10
	Katie Boulter Alex de Minaur		7

Media coverage

Each Tie Break Tens tournament is broadcast live around the world. Some of the broadcast partners have included: Sky Sports,^[37] Dubai Sports, Canal+, DAZN, Facebook Live, CNN Open Court,^[38] presented by Pat Cash, SuperSport, Teledeporte TVE, BeIN Sports, Dave^[39] ESPN 2 and ESPN 3,^[40] and Tennis Channel.^[41]

Sponsors

Past and current sponsors of the tournament include Voss Water,^[42] Betway,^[43] Tennis.com,^[44] Mutua, Rolex, Mercedes, Estrella, Wilson,^[45] TransferMate,^[46] FILA^[47] and Masimo,^[48] SlingerBag

See also

• Tennis portal

• Ultimate Tennis Showdown
• Glossary of tennis terms

Notes