match point

American  

[mach point, mach point] / ˈmætʃ ˈpɔɪnt, ˈmætʃ ˌpɔɪnt /

noun

1. (in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) the point that if won would enable the scorer or the scorer's side to win the match.

2. Duplicate Bridge. a scoring unit consisting of one point awarded to a partnership for each opposing partnership whose score they better on a hand and of one-half point for each opposing partnership whose score they equal.

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match point British  

noun

1. sport the final point needed to win a match

2. bridge the unit used for scoring in tournaments

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Etymology

Origin of match point

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

match point

It’s reasonable to believe that the moment he knocked home match point for major No. 25 the word “Retirement” would appear before him in gigantic flashing letters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

Muchova made two ridiculous volleys - including a diving one - slipped on her first match point, and Gauff missed a match point when she went with the slice forehand at the net.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

On court, Noskova had to fight back from match point down in her third-round encounter against Romania's Sorana Cirstea.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

But Muchova dusted herself down to fight again, bringing up her second match point by sending Gauff wide before slamming home an inside-out forehand winner into the corner.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Citra watched, feeling almost detached, as if this were a tennis match and it was match point.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman