match point
noun
: a situation (as in tennis) in which one player or side will win the match by winning the next point
also
: the point itself
Examples of match point in a Sentence
He won with an ace on his second match point.
He won with an ace on match point.
Recent Examples on the Web
The 23-year-old Shelton buckled down and fought off all three match points to stay alive.
—
José Sánchez Córdova, Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
On Fritz's last match point, Shelton converted a volley to get back to deuce and went on to hold serve with a backhand volley into the open court with both players at the net.
—ABC News, 15 Feb. 2026
After racing to his right and hitting a crushing forehand winner on match point, Carlos Alcaraz fell to the ground and lay on his back in Rod Laver Arena.
—Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Keys had won her previous 10 matches at Melbourne Park, during which time her ability to raise her level when behind was arguably her defining quality — most notably when down match point on Iga Świątek’s serve in last year’s semifinal.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for match point
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José Sánchez Córdova, Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
On Fritz's last match point, Shelton converted a volley to get back to deuce and went on to hold serve with a backhand volley into the open court with both players at the net.
—ABC News, 15 Feb. 2026
After racing to his right and hitting a crushing forehand winner on match point, Carlos Alcaraz fell to the ground and lay on his back in Rod Laver Arena.
—Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Keys had won her previous 10 matches at Melbourne Park, during which time her ability to raise her level when behind was arguably her defining quality — most notably when down match point on Iga Świątek’s serve in last year’s semifinal.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for match point
Cite this Entry
“Match point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/match%20point. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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