PoToMaW (Points To Match Win) is a tennis measure of direct distance from victory. It reflects the number of consecutive points a player would need to win the match.

Before and after each point, both players have a PoToMaW. Each point changes one or both measures, depending on the context of the given point. In general,

formula

P_M = P_G + 4·(G_S − 1) + 24·(S_M − 1)

where

P_G = points to win current game

G_S = games to win current set

S_M = sets to win the match

At the start of a men's Grand Slam (best of 5 sets), both players begin at 72 PoToMaW. At the start of a women's match (best of 3 sets), both begin at 48. The match ends when one player reaches 0.

Winning a point always decreases that player's PoToMaW by 1. Losing a point early in a game has no effect. But losing past the second point — entering deuce territory — increases it. Losing a game or set that a player made progress in increases their PoToMaW even more.

derived metrics

  • Damage — cumulative sum of all PoToMaW increases over the match. Measures how much point progress towards a match win was destroyed.
  • Lead Lost — the largest lead the eventual loser ever held at any point in the match. 0 means a wire-to-wire win.
  • Avg PoToMaW — average distance to the match win across all points, split by winner and loser.

Full writeup on achromath →