An Introduction to Tennis Etiquette
Did you know that some of the family members of Kate Middleton were denied entry to the Royal Box at Wimbledon due to a (minor) breach of tennis etiquette?
Our wonderful sport can often come across as elitist or pretentious because it has developed a set of unspoken rules you won’t find in a rulebook. The community takes them seriously but rarely thinks of kindly educating its new players.
Let’s cover the range of the most common tennis etiquette customs for players so that you can avoid getting yelled at.
Tennis Etiquette for Players
Good sportsmanship, or the fair and generous behaviour and treatment of others, is at the core of tennis etiquette.
Photo by Julian Schiemann on Unsplash
Silence your phone
If your cell phone rings during a match, the opponent can automatically claim the point as an intentional hindrance because it was under your control.
Line calls
Each player is responsible for calling the lines on their side of the court because they have the best vantage point.
Very important: if you are not 100% sure of the correct call, you should give your opponent the benefit of the doubt and give them the point.
Make your calls quickly and loudly enough so your opponent can easily hear you.
Score-calling
The score of the set should be called out by the server before each game, and the score of the game called out before each point.
Verbal distractions
Singles
Do not talk or make any unnecessary noises, such as shouting, during a point. It’s against the rules and can cause you to forfeit the point as a hindrance. If you do say something, apologize and let your opponent have the point.
Doubles
You can communicate with your partner if the ball is coming towards your side of the court.
Visual distractions
If a neighbouring court’s ball enters your court during a point, call a let and replay the point.
Returning Missed Serves
If your opponent misses their serve, don’t return it. Instead, block the ball to the side or the back of the court. Don’t make the server chase a ball around, it’s annoying.
Retrieving Balls
If your ball ends up on another court, you can either retrieve it or ask the players to send it to you but never, ever do it during a point. Respectfully wait for the point to be over, and then begin the process of getting your ball back.
Clipping the Net and Mishits
You might hit a ball that clips the net or hit it with your frame and land a winning point. When this happens, it’s tradition to wave to your opponent out of recognition for the lucky shot.
Hitting your opponent
If you accidentally hit or come close to hitting your opponent, it’s good etiquette to wave and apologize to the player and let them know that it wasn’t intentional. Because it wasn’t, right? ;)
Drop shots and lobs
They have a time and place, honestly. Drop shots and lobs are legitimate strokes but when done repeatedly, they take the fun out of any game and won’t make you any friends.
Celebrations
There’s a fine line between celebration and gloating. Be gracious, walk up to the net, congratulate your opponent for a good game, and shake hands (or touch racquets during COVID).
Tennis Etiquette for Public Courts
Dress code
Don’t play shirtless. We know it's Kelownafornia and there are half-naked people shopping at Save-On in the summer, but please cover yourself to play tennis. We don’t need to see more flesh unless you are Chris Hemsworth.
Entering a Court
There is often only one entrance, forcing you to walk behind other courts to reach yours. Wait until a point is over, and ask if they’re okay with you passing through the court. It’s common courtesy.
Length of Play
When you start playing, set a timer to 1h for singles or 1h30 for doubles. When the timer goes off, leave the court if someone is waiting for it: it’s the right thing to do.
That’s it!
See, this wasn’t too bad, was it? Hopefully, this helped you learn something new or clarified a piece of etiquette so you can enjoy the sport to its fullest.
