Tennis court etiquette is not a rule, and therefore is open to interpretation by individual players, officials and tennis clubs. Conduct that one player may deem inappropriate can be viewed as necessary and appropriate by another. Tennis court etiquette asks that players wear the proper attire, that they conduct themselves with integrity and that they show respect to their opponent.
Attire
Many clubs and sanctioning organizations have etiquette policies regarding what players wear on the court. A standard uniform is not required, so etiquette policies show players what may be acceptable and what may not be. According to the Tennis Resources Factsheet, etiquette asks that players wear clothing made for sports, so jeans and sandal shoes should be avoided. Improper footwear can damage courts and leave streaks, while non-sports attire can be a distraction and--in some cases--can be thought of as inconsiderate to the integrity of the sport.
Respect for Opponents
Shaking an opponent's hand before and after the match is a historic piece of tennis court etiquette and avoiding it may be considered a sign of disrespect . According to the Bush Hill Park Tennis Club, swearing and disrespectful language toward an opponent should be avoided. Tennis is a sport that does not feature taunting and other adversarial conduct like soccer, baseball or basketball. Players keep to themselves and rarely interact during play.
Fans
Tennis court etiquette extends off the court as well. Fans, or observers, stay quiet during serves at tennis matches and keep quiet while play happens. Cheering is not disallowed at tennis matches, but etiquette standards discourage cheering or booing at any time during play. Fans will voice displeasure with officials' calls in many sports venues; however, tennis etiquette frowns upon displays that are critical of officials.
Line Calls
Some tennis organizations provide line judges and referees, who make calls about whether balls land in or out. In recreational play, players use the honor system to make line calls. Tennis court etiquette calls for players to make calls for balls that land on their side of the court only, according to the Tennis Resources Factsheet. Any calls that the player is not certain about are either considered in or can be replayed. Situations can come up where a player disagrees with the opponent's call, and etiquette frowns upon extravagant protests and mean-spirited actions in those situations.
Concurrent Matches
Many tennis clubs have multiple adjacent courts. Tennis court etiquette dictates how the courts coexist, especially when one court's ball travels into another court. According to BellaOnline, players are advised not to walk onto a court where another game is happening to retrieve a ball. It is acceptable only after a point has been finished and play has stopped. In situations where players have to walk through other courts to get to the exit, tennis court etiquette encourages players to walk around the back on the courts--not parallel with the net--so they do not interfere with another match.
Officials
Just as players are asked to treat opponents with respect, tennis etiquette also expects players to treat officials with respect. Berating officials over disputed calls is frowned upon in the tennis world, as is throwing tantrums when a player does not agree with a call. Players shake hands with the head official before and after each match as well.
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