Rules governing the equipment, court dimensions and match play of tennis are set forth clearly and expansively by the International Tennis Federation, with various additions or modifications made by various federations and organizations holding competitions. Rules governing the behavior of players, however, are not set in stone. For this reason, the U.S. Tennis Association created its "Friend at Court" publication to help players behave in a more sportsmanlike manner.
Respect
One of the tenets of good tennis etiquette is that you respect your opponent. For example, during the warm-up, you should place your shots in such a way that it allows your opponent to warm up, rather than practicing your winning shots.
Calls on Yourself
If the ball touches you or anything you wear or carry before it lands, you must alert your opponent and concede the point. If your opponent cannot make a call and asks for your opinion, you must make the correct call if you saw the ball land, even if the call is against you. You may change your call from out to in during a point, and replay the point, if you put your ball in play after you made the erroneous call. However, if the shot you put in play was a weak sitter that would have resulted in your opponent winning the point, you should acknowledge that and concede the point.
Out Serves
If a serve is obviously out, you should let it roll back to the fence or hit it into the net. Practicing your return on long serves causes a delay for the server to begin his next serve and is also considered a form of gamesmanship.
When in Doubt
Even when you are fairly certain a ball landed out, but aren't 100 percent sure, you must call it good. If any part of the ball touches the line, the shot is good. If you cannot see distance between the ball and the line, you must give the point to your opponent.
Returning Balls
After a game that results in players switching sides, the player who is receiving should bring any balls on his side of the net and hand them to the opponent at the net. It is discourteous to leave balls on the court for the server to pick up.
Abuse
Throwing your racket, swearing, hitting balls away from an opponent or taunting are forms of verbal and equipment abuse and are not tolerated. Any equipment abuse directed at an opponent (such as hitting a ball at or throwing a racket toward a player) is immediate grounds for default.
Questioning Calls
If you feel your opponent has made a bad call, you may ask the opponent, once, if they were sure, or by how much the ball was out. You may not argue, refuse to play or categorically state that calls are bad.
Serving Time
While the rules provide for 20 seconds from the time a point ends until the next point is to begin, the receiver must play to the reasonable pace of the server (about 10 to 12 seconds) if the server is ready. You may not use the time in between points to regain condition (rest or catch your breath).
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