What is a golden set in tennis?

A golden set is a rare and prestigious feat in tennis that occurs when a player wins a set without dropping a single point. In other words, the player wins all 24 points of the set, with no double faults, unforced errors, or other errors. The term "golden set" originates from the idea that the feat is as precious as gold due to its rarity.

A golden set is considered one of the most impressive achievements in tennis and has only been accomplished a handful of times in professional tennis history. The first recorded golden set was played by Bill Scanlon in 1983 against Marcos Hocevar at the WCT Gold Coast Classic in Delray Beach, Florida. Other notable players who have achieved a golden set include Yaroslava Shvedova, who achieved the feat at Wimbledon 2012, and Bernard Tomic, who did so in a challenger tournament in 2014.

Despite its rarity, achieving a golden set is not a guaranteed indicator of the match outcome as the player could still lose the match if they lose subsequent sets. Nevertheless, it is a remarkable accomplishment that demonstrates a player's exceptional skill, precision, and focus on the court.