What A Bagel Means In Tennis
+ Why It’s Used & Stats
In this article, I’ll review the term ‘bagel’ in tennis, including examples and statistics.
Examples In A Sentence
I’m going to dish out a bagel to my opponent today.
I’ve only received one bagel in my career, and I hope it never happens again.
Why It’s Called A Bagel
The term bagel is slang for the score of 6-0. Tennis players use the word to represent the score of zero because it resembles the shape of a bagel.
Although they happen periodically, it’s statistically a rare feat when looking across the thousands of professional tennis matches that occur in tennis each year.
Rare Statistics
How many times has a triple bagel occurred?
Since 1968 or during the Open Era, a triple bagel has only occurred five times at Grand Slam Tournament.
- 1968 Nikola Špear – Daniel Contet 6–0, 6–0, 6–0 (French)
- 1987 Karel Nováček – Eduardo Bengoechea 6–0, 6–0, 6–0 (French)
- 1987 Stefan Edberg – Stefan Eriksson 6–0, 6–0, 6–0 (Wimbledon)
- 1987 Ivan Lendl – Barry Moir 6–0, 6–0, 6–0 (US Open)
- 1993 Sergi Bruguera – Thierry Champion 6–0, 6–0, 6–0 (Fench)
Who has served the most bagels in their career?
Jimmy Connors served up the most bagels in his career with 180. Ivan Lendl sits in second place at 148.
Top Questions & Answers
What is a bagel?
A bagel describes a set where the score is 6-0.
Why is it called a bagel?
It’s called a bagel because the zero in the score of 6-0 resembles the shape of a bagel.
What is a double bagel?
A double bagel describes the outcome of a match where the score is 6-0, 6-0.
What is a triple bagel?
A triple bagel occurs when the score of a match is 6-0, 6-0, 6-0.
Is it a doughnut or bagel?
The term bagel describes a set where the score is 6-0, not doughnut.
What is a bagel girl?
The term bagel girl is a demeaning term used to describe a female player who frequently loses a set 6-0.
What is the golden bagel award?
The golden bagel award honors the player who served up the most bagels on the ATP Tour in a single season. Roger Federer was the first recipient in 2004 with 12 bagels, and he also holds the record for the most bagels even in a single season at 18.
Here’s a list of the award recipients:
- 2004 Roger Federer 12
- 2005 Rafael Nadal 11
- 2006 Roger Federer 18
- 2007 David Ferre 7
- 2008 Rafael Nadal 10
- 2009 Rafael Nadal 8
- 2010 Robin Söderling 7
- 2011 Novak Djokovic 13
- 2012 Novak Djokovic 9
- 2013 Novak Djokovic 12
- 2015 Novak Djokovic 12
Wrapping Up
Do you have questions about the term ‘bagel?’ Let me know in the comments below – I’m here to help.
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