Return Points Won, Hold % and Break %
Also known as: return points won, return points won percentage, hold percentage, hold %, break percentage, break %, service games won, return games won, return stats tennis
Return points won is the share of points you win when your opponent is serving. It tells you how much pressure your return puts on their serve, and it drives how often you break. Hold % is the share of your own service games you win. Break % is the share of your return games you win.
Return points won counts the points you win as the returner. Divide it by the total points you returned to get a percentage. It is the mirror of your opponent's serve points won.
It matters because breaks come from return points. Winning a few more return points per game can turn deuce games into breaks. Comparing first-serve and second-serve return points won shows where you do the damage.
Hold % and break % sit one level up. Hold % is the share of your service games you win, also called service games won. Break % is the share of return games you win, also called return games won. Most players hold far more often than they break, so a single break often decides a set.
Use them together. A player who holds well but breaks rarely needs a better return. A player who breaks often but drops serve needs a more reliable serve.
Tips by skill level
In a practice set, tally the return points you win. Aim to raise it by getting more returns in play.
Split return points won by first and second serve. A low second-serve number means you are not attacking weaker serves enough.
Example
In her match, Nina won 40 of 100 return points. That pressure gave her four breaks, which was enough to win even though she was broken twice.
Why it matters
Return stats show whether your return is creating chances. They point to the part of your game that will move the scoreboard most.
Common mistakes
- Looking only at break points converted and ignoring total return points won
- Confusing hold % with first-serve percentage
- Judging a return game by winners instead of by points won
Frequently asked questions
What does return points won mean in tennis?
It is the share of points you win when your opponent serves. More return points won usually means more breaks of serve.
What is hold percentage in tennis?
The share of your service games that you win. It is also called service games won.
Sources
Related terms
- 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.
- Serve Points Won (First and Second Serve)First-serve points won is the share of points you win when your first serve lands in. Second-serve points won is the share you win when the point goes to a second serve. The gap between the two shows how much your second serve is costing you.
- Return of ServeTo return serve well, split step as the server hits, turn your shoulders early and use a short, compact backswing. Against a fast serve, block or chip the ball deep and use the server's pace. Against a kick serve, step in and take it before it climbs, or move back and let it drop.
- Break Point Conversion RateBreak point conversion rate is the percentage of break point chances a player wins. It is a key measure of performance on the most pressure-heavy points.
- Dominance Ratio (DR)Dominance ratio, or DR, divides the share of return points you won by the share of your own serve points you lost. A DR of exactly 1.0 means you played evenly on serve and return. Winners usually finish above 1.0 and losers below it, so DR works as a one-number summary of how well you played.
Related guides & benchmarks
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