Skip to content

Point sequences reaching four all in a tennis game

Question

In a tennis game the score starts at 00–00 and each point adds one to the winner's tally. A player who reaches 44 points first wins the game, unless the score has been level at 33–33, after which a player must lead by 22 to win. In how many different point-by-point sequences can the score reach 44–44?

Short answer

4040. To reach 44–44 the game must pass through 33–33 (otherwise someone would have won at 44–xx with x≤2x\le2), and there are (63)=20\binom63=20 ways to get there. From 33–33 the next two points must be split, in either order: 20⋅2=4020\cdot2=40.

Adapted from QuantQuestions.io; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

See the hint and the full worked solution in the question bank (free account).

Open the worked solution

Lessons behind this question

Start with a free lesson: Probability Fundamentals is part of a free topic. Create a free account, no card needed, to read it in full with worked solutions.

Read it free