Tennis Etiquette
In order for all to enjoy the sport, players should adhere to the basic tennis etiquette below:
Be at the designated court punctually.
Introduce yourself to the opponent(s).
One player to initiate the process of determining the serving team to start the match by tossing a coin or racket.
The winner of the toss can elect to serve, to receive, choose the starting side of the court or allow the opponent to choose serve/receive or starting end (one choice per team).
Ensure nothing is placed on the net posts, net adjustment handle and net lines.
Players’ belongings should be placed clear of the doubles lines marked.
In doubles play, the partner of the receiver makes the calls for the service line, while the receiver makes the centre and side service line calls.
When the serve is clearly faulty, do not hit the ball but retrieve it for safekeeping or let it roll to the fence.
When the first serve is faulty, pick up the ball so that it is not left on the court to prevent in jury or distraction.
To retrieve balls from behind another court, only walk behind that court when the players in that court have finished their point.
If the balls are in another court, wait for those players to return your ball when the players have ceased play for the point.
Return the balls to the server at the conclusion of each point by rolling them under the net or hitting them gently over the net if the net is too long.
The server should call out the game score before serving the next point.
Any queries about the points should be raised before the next point is played.
Should the players disagree on the point of the match, replay the game at the point where there is mutual agreement.
Match should only resume when both parties have reached an agreement of the points at that time.
Players must indicate line calls aloud verbally in addition to the use of hand gestures.
Generally, fingers pointing up or sideways indicate the ball was out.
A horizontal open palm with outstretched fingers generally indicates the ball was in.
It is the sole responsibility of the team on the side on which the ball has landed at the end of the point to determine the line call.
If the opposing player/team disagrees with a line call, raise the query in a calm and polite manner – ultimately the call stands with the player(s) whose side of the court the ball landed.
Seek a coach, match supervisor or player from a higher division in the home club for adjudication if mutual agreement cannot be reached among players in that match.
Do not enlist the judgement of spectators, parents or players from adjoining courts.
At the conclusion of each match, all players shake hands or tap rackets.