Tennis is a centuries-old game that was traditionally played by upper-class families. Professional tournaments like Wimbledon are frequently graced with the presence of royalty. Because of this, there is also a strong tradition of etiquette in tennis. Many tennis matches are watched in near-total silence while the game is in play, and at some places there is a specific dress code to adhere to--Wimbledon requires all players to be dressed in predominantly white outfits. However, there are also some universal rules of etiquette tennis players are expected to adhere to.
Warm up Your Opponent
At the professional level, some athletes have trainers or hired individuals to help them warm up. At most levels of competition, though, warming up is done with your opponent. It is a noncompetitive process intended only to warm up the muscles. It is an unwritten rule that opponents warm up with one another in a sportsmanlike manner.
Announcing the Score
Much like warming up, at some professional contests there is an announcer who states the score of the game prior to each serve. Most tournaments and competitions do not have this luxury, though, and it's customary to announce the game score before every serve. This helps both sides keep track of the score.
Questionable Calls
If there is any doubt whether a ball landed in bounds or out of bounds, the benefit of the doubt is usually given to the shot and called in. If sides are split over whether the ball was in or not, this is usually called an in shot.
Ball Return
When multiple courts are placed together, it's common for balls from other games to come onto your court. When this happens, it's customary to roll the ball back onto the court from where the ball came, placing it close to the net to prevent another player from stepping on it during play. The ball should only be thrown directly to another player if the player is asking for the ball.
Play at a Reasonable Pace
Most tennis matches have a time limit of 25 seconds from the time a point is scored to the time a serve is delivered. However, just because this time limit is provided does not mean it should be maxed out. Both sides should try to play at a pace similar to one another. Generally, allowing 10 to 12 seconds between the end of one serve and the start of the next is customary.
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