break point
noun
: a situation in tennis in which the receiving player can win the game by scoring the next point
also : the point so scored
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In fact, Kyrgios had the break point all but secured when his passing shot popped straight up in the air off of Medvedev’s racquet. 
Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2022 Sixteen-year-old Learner Tien of Irvine pushed No. 32 Miomir Kecmanovic and had a break point midway through the third set, but the Serbian pulled away to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3. Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 Djokovic double-faulted on break point in the first set and Kyrgios ultimately closed it out with an ace to take the first set. Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 10 July 2022 Serena found better success in the second set behind her serve, but Bencic finally got the break in the 3-3 game when Williams hit a double-fault on break point. Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 From there, Djokovic gave him just one more major chance to haul his way back into the match, a triple-break point late in the set. Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 10 July 2022 Playing a very tight, tentative game, Williams made an unforced error with the forehand and then hit a weak approach shot on break point that Tan redirected easily for a winner to level the match again at 5-5. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 28 June 2022 He got broken three times in the first set, then never faced a break point the rest of the way. Howard Fendrich, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 July 2022 On break point in the fifth game, Cornet jumped on a second serve and laced a forehand down the line. New York Times, 2 July 2022 See More
Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2022 Sixteen-year-old Learner Tien of Irvine pushed No. 32 Miomir Kecmanovic and had a break point midway through the third set, but the Serbian pulled away to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3. Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 Djokovic double-faulted on break point in the first set and Kyrgios ultimately closed it out with an ace to take the first set. Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 10 July 2022 Serena found better success in the second set behind her serve, but Bencic finally got the break in the 3-3 game when Williams hit a double-fault on break point. Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 From there, Djokovic gave him just one more major chance to haul his way back into the match, a triple-break point late in the set. Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 10 July 2022 Playing a very tight, tentative game, Williams made an unforced error with the forehand and then hit a weak approach shot on break point that Tan redirected easily for a winner to level the match again at 5-5. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 28 June 2022 He got broken three times in the first set, then never faced a break point the rest of the way. Howard Fendrich, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 July 2022 On break point in the fifth game, Cornet jumped on a second serve and laced a forehand down the line. New York Times, 2 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1969, in the meaning defined above
- taking a hike
- taking a powder
- taking aback
- taking account of
- taking after
- taking against
- taking an axe to
- taking apart
- taking away
- taking back
- taking by surprise
- taking care of
- taking down
- taking effect
- taking exception
- taking for
- taking for a ride
- taking for granted
- taking hold
- taking hold (of)
- taking hold of
- taking in
- taking into account
- taking issue
- taking kindly to