Every year, millions of fans visit the biggest tennis tournaments, such as the US Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, etc. Many people enjoy the athletes’ performances and wait for their favorite tennis player to win! However, only a few people remember the necessary rules that they need to adhere to when attending competitions. For your convenience, we created a guide to break down the 15 important rules that coaches, athletes, and all the fans must follow! Read now and prepare for the next competition with us!
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Source: https://www.usta.com/en/home/improve/tips-and-instruction/national/tennis-scoring-rules.html
Racket Abuse Fines
The first and especially important rule is that tennis players cannot break their rackets. Many competitions can be tense for athletes, so they can be nervous or even angry. But the rule remains the rule. If couches notice any racket abuse, they’ll issue a fine in the amount of $50,000. In some cases, the results can be even more severe, like eight-week suspensions.
Ball Abuse Regulations
The same rule also applies to the ball. The tennis player shouldn’t throw the ball with anger and violence. Sometimes, these powerful hits can result in harm to judges or other people on the court. The fine will also make around $50,000.
Dress Code in the Royal Box
Royal Box is the box created by the organizers of Wimbledon for the entertainment of the British Royal Family and their friends. This box has a strict list of rules related to the dress code. The visitors must wear classic and smart clothes, while hats are strongly permitted. This is made to ensure a good view for all guests.
All-White Dress Code at Wimbledon
Another rule concerning clothes is the total-white dress code at the Wimbledon tournament. The player should enter the court in white tennis attire. The beige or other similar white colors do not count.
However, logos in different colors on athletes’ clothing are allowed if they are less than 1 cm wide.
Source:https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/dress-codes-why-do-tennis-players-wear-white-1.6961318
Undergarment Requirements
The all-white rule also applies to undergarments. The players should wear white undergarments and make them as unnoticeable as possible. The only exception is that women can wear dark-colored shorts under the skirts if they’re not longer than the skirt itself.
Restrictions on Personal Branding
Sometimes, the most successful athletes develop their own tennis clothing lines. Unfortunately, the sportsmen can only wear traditional tennis garments. The professional tennis uniform can’t contain any logos, branding, or personal identifiers, such as name or team. All rules related to tennis clothes are outlined by the International Tennis Federation and should be followed no matter what.
Prohibitions on Cursing
When matches get heated, some sportsmen can feel angry or elevated tense. But the rule is they can’t curse on the court. If the couch notices the audible obscenity, the player will be charged $50,000, according to the Grand Slam rulebook. Unfortunately, some athletes still haven’t learned to control themselves. For instance, tennis player Nick Kyrrgios was fined multiple times for cursing on the court.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5560925/2024/06/13/wimbledon-prize-money/
Silence During Play
Many fans mentioned that tennis is a very quiet game. This is because the spectators are not allowed to cheer when the ball is in play. This rule was established specifically to allow players and fans to hear every grunt and hit of the ball. Thanks to this, athletes can concentrate on the play better, while the fans can be even more immersed in the game.
Regulations Against Tanking Matches
The one more rule that is actively used in the tennis world is that the player can’t purposely tank their matches. This can seem absurd because what player wants to lose the game on purpose? Yet, some punters were seen as lacking the desire to win. Some of them want to lose the match and retire, while others just want to allow themselves a quick break. This led to the rule from the Grand Slam Academy, which says that the athletes who don’t use all efforts to win the competition will be fined $50,000.
Limitations on Bathroom Breaks
This rule applies to all players, regardless of gender. Women can visit the restroom once during singles and twice during doubles competitions. Male players are granted one bathroom break for three games and two for five games in a row. Toilet breaks are limited to three minutes for all genders.
Coaching Restrictions
Coaches are not allowed to talk with the players during the warm-ups and matches. So, as soon as the game begins, they should move the required distance from the players. After spotting that the many couches were still giving many signals to the athletes, this rule was reconsidered. In 2024, according to the Grand Slam rules, trainers are allowed to interact with players by using short phrases and signals.
Source: https://www.lta.org.uk/play/how-to-get-started/rules-scoring/
Jewelry Regulations
There are no official rules that prohibit wearing jewelry on the court, yet this can be risky. Sometimes, earrings and bracelets can fall during the match, and the players can step on them and even get injured. Even so, the Grand Slam still does not include wearing jewelry in its list of tennis regulations.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalties
All tennis players should behave themselves according to the generally recognized sportsmanship rules. The athletes cannot curse, fight, or make offensive gestures. If the violation was made for the first time, the player is fined $100,000, but with each subsequent case in one season, the fine increases by 100%.
Flash Photography Restrictions
All tournaments are prohibited from using Flash when making a photo during matches. This rule is made to secure and not distract players from the game. Many tournaments, like Wimbledon or the US Open, do not allow visitors to bring a camera. Yet Open’s Arthur Ashe welcomes the use of small cameras.
Guidelines for Medical Timeouts
If the player obtained a small injury during the match, he needs to be inspected by the sports physiotherapist immediately. If the hurt is not severe, athletes can have three minutes for the consultation.
Source: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/sporting/g60658499/tennis-rules/
Conclusion
As you can see, tennis is quite a serious sport with a huge range of different rules. Despite the fact that today, we’ve touched only a few of them, you can confidently prepare to attend your favorite tournament. So, choose the best white clothes, avoid hats or umbrellas, and be ready to dive into a wonderful and sporty tennis atmosphere!
