Tennis requires hand-eye coordination, speed, quickness, overall athleticism, and endurance. Players must have a solid serve to put the ball in play, and well-placed ground strokes to keep it in play. Tennis is a tradition-bound sport, and demands each player adhere to a standard of behavior. It's important to know tennis etiquette before you take the court.
Constant Communication
When playing competitive tennis, it's important to know where you stand in the match. In order to prevent misunderstandings about the score, the server is required to say the score before he tosses the ball in the air. If the server has just won the first point of the game, he will say "15-love" before he serves. If his opponent won the point, he will say "love-15." If there is a dispute, it should only be about the point just played. There should be no game-long scoring disputes.
Changing Sides
In order to keep the conditions fair in tennis, the etiquette of the game requires players to change sides after every odd-numbered game. This will keep one player from having to hit constantly into the wind, or keep his opponent from always hitting with the wind. Players will change sides of the court after the first game, then every two games after that. This practice holds both indoors and out.
Striking the Ball
While a player is only required to hit the ball so that it bounces within the court, players should (with rare exceptions) refrain from trying to strike each other with the ball. If you have a short shot, with both you and your opponent close to the net, do not aim at her head or any other vulnerable part of her body. The goal of tennis is not to injure your opponent --- it is to win the point. The only exception is that when you are lining up a ground stroke and your opponent is charging the net, you should hit ball at his right hip if he is right-handed and left hip if he is left-handed. This strategy is considered acceptable, and not a violation of etiquette.
Benefit of the Doubt
During professional matches, judges make line calls on whether balls are in play or out. Computerized video equipment is used to make rulings on disputed calls. However, when amateurs are playing in the park or the tennis club, there are no judges or video equipment. If a ball appears out, you should call it out. If you are not sure, or if it is reasonably close, however, call it in and give your opponent the benefit of the doubt. The goal is to play with good sportsmanship; you should not look for every edge you can get. Be safe, and be fair.
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