Love
Love means zero in padel scoring, exactly as in tennis. A score of 15-0 is called “fifteen love”. A game that ends 0-4 in points is a “love game”. The term carries straight over from tennis and is used by players and umpires at every level from social club play to Premier Padel.
What does love mean in padel?
Love means zero. It is the word used in place of the number 0 when calling the score. A serve that has not been broken open yet sits at “love-love” (0-0). After the server wins one point, it is “fifteen-love” (15-0). After losing one, it is “love-fifteen” (0-15).
When is it used in padel?
On every score call where a player has zero points. “Love game” means winning a game 4-0 in points. “Love set” means winning a set 6-0 in games. The convention follows tennis and is now universal across padel.
How love fits the padel score sequence
Padel uses tennis-style scoring: love (0), fifteen (15), thirty (30), forty (40), game. The server calls their own score first, then the opponent’s. So “fifteen-love” means the server has 15 and the opponent has 0. “Love-fifteen” reverses it.
Quick reference: Love = zero. Server calls their score first. Love game = 4-0 in points. Love set = 6-0 in games.
Common misconceptions
Love does not mean anything related to the affection sense of the word in padel scoring. The origin in tennis is disputed - some say it comes from French “l’oeuf” (the egg, shaped like zero). Whatever the etymology, in padel it means zero, used identically to tennis.
