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

Bejlek, ranked 40 places below world number 61 Kartal, converted her first match point to complete victory at the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

"Without my aces I probably would not have won today," said Zverev, who sent down 24 aces and made only one double fault, on a match point.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

Gauff held serve for 4-1 and safely sealed the win on her fourth match point.

From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026

Breaking for a 4-2 lead, Alcaraz sought to finish in style and landed a spectacular overhead backhand drop shot to reach a third match point on Fritz's serve.

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2025

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

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman