Tennis scoring uses 'love' which means zero

Tennis employs distinctive scoring with 'love' denoting zero. Etymology traces to French influence on tennis, particularly English adoption from France. The word 'l'œuf' means 'egg' in French; the visual similarity between egg and numeral zero (both round) created association. English players adopted 'l'œuf,' eventually anglicized as 'love.' Though French connection receded, terminology persists. Players with zero points have 'love.' Both at zero is 'love-love.' Full tennis scoring progression (0-15-30-40-deuce-advantage) uses 15-point increments for first three points, then deuce and advantage—'deuce' derives from French 'deux' (two). This accumulated French terminology reflects tennis's historical aristocratic European development before spreading globally.