Bagel and Breadstick (Set Scores)
Also known as: bagel in tennis, tennis bagel, double bagel, breadstick in tennis, tennis breadstick, bageled, won a set 6-0
A bagel is a set won 6-0, where the loser does not win a single game. The name comes from the 0 looking like a bagel. A breadstick is a set won 6-1, where the loser wins just one game. A double bagel is a match won 6-0, 6-0.
Tennis has its own slang for lopsided sets. A bagel is a 6-0 set. The zero in the score looks like a bagel, which is where the nickname comes from. Being 'bageled' means losing a set without winning a game.
A breadstick is a 6-1 set. The 1 looks like a breadstick, and the loser takes just one game. A double bagel is a match won 6-0, 6-0, a clean sweep in a best-of-three match.
These terms are casual. You won't hear an official call them, but players, coaches and commentators use them all the time. Losing a bagel set happens to everyone. What matters is what you learn from it and how you respond in the next set.
Tips by skill level
If you lose a set 6-0, change one thing in the next set, like playing higher and deeper.
When you are winning big, stay with what works. Many bagels slip away when the leader eases off.
Example
Max loses the first set 6-0, a bagel. He slows down, plays higher over the net and wins the second set 6-4.
Why it matters
Knowing the slang helps you follow commentary and chat with other players. It also reminds you that one-sided sets are a normal part of the game.
Common mistakes
- Calling a 6-1 set a bagel when it is a breadstick
- Thinking a bagel is an official scoring term
- Giving up after losing a bagel set
Frequently asked questions
What is a double bagel in tennis?
A match won 6-0, 6-0, where the loser does not win a single game.
What is a breadstick in tennis?
A set won 6-1. The loser wins just one game.
Sources
Related terms
- Tennis ScoringPoints in a tennis game go love (zero), 15, 30, 40, then game, and the server's score is called first. At 40-40, called deuce, a player must win two points in a row to take the game. The first to six games wins the set by two, usually with a tiebreak at 6-6, and matches are best of three or five sets.
- Set and Match FormatsMost matches are best of three sets: first to six games, winning by two, with a tiebreak at 6-6. Other approved formats include advantage sets with no tiebreak, short sets to four games, and a deciding match tiebreak instead of a third set. Many US events also use the 8-game pro set.
- Momentum Shift in a MatchA momentum shift is a clear change in which player controls a match. Breaks of serve, long games won on key points, and runs of games often trigger it.
- Hold and Break of ServeYou hold serve when you win a game you are serving. You break serve when you win a game your opponent is serving. Breaking back means winning the next return game after being broken. The server usually has the edge. One break is often enough to win a set.
- Handling Mistakes and FrustrationExpect to miss, and decide in advance how you will respond. After a mistake, turn away, breathe out slowly and use a quick reset, such as the towel or touching the back fence, to let the point go. Then replace it with one simple job for the next point, like moving your feet or hitting deep crosscourt.
Related guides & benchmarks
Have a question about this?
There is nothing here to film. Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question, or keep reading the related terms above.