Quiet Please…
During play, it is very important to stay quite as a spectator. Although you may feel that a quiet chat with the person next to you will never be heard, if thousands of spectators are doing the same, it can suddenly become very noisy, which isn’t well received by the players. Tennis is an intense game to play and requires a lot of concentration, so it is vital for spectators to avoid distracting the players with noise. Often, an umpire will ask the crowd to be quiet before a point begins, so keep an ear out for this, and don’t be surprised if another spectator asks you for silence if you are making noise.
Cheering And Support
Whilst you must remain quiet during play, there is nothing wrong with clapping and cheering for a player, or a good point, rally or point-winning-hit once the point is over. It is important to ensure that you only start cheering once the point has been won, so be sure to check that the ball is out of play. Occasionally, the crowd will start to cheer when it seems a point is over, however a player could make a seemingly impossible shot. In cases like this, you will find that the crowd quickly quietens again.
If you are ever unsure, simply see what people around you are doing. If everybody is talking, cheering and clapping, then go ahead and join in on the fun, but if everybody around you is keeping quiet this is probably a sign that it’s time to do the same.
Phones And Photography
The same with talking during a point, it is important to ensure your phone is silent. You do not want your phone to go off in Centre Court as a point is being played. You will get lots of unimpressed looks from those around you and if it happens multiple times, don’t be surprised if you are asked to leave the court.
Nowadays, having a phone means having a camera. When taking photos/videos at a tennis match, spectators should make sure that their flash is off as well as the shutter sound. Both can be very distracting to players and repeat offences could see you being asked to leave. It is also important to keep your fellow spectators in mind when taking photos or video – try and avoid blocking the view of those sat behind you to take photos – oh, and definitely leave the selfie stick at home.
Getting Up From Your Seat
Of course, you don’t have to stay in your seat for the entirety of a match, which, in tennis, can often extend for many hours. However, there are specific times during a match that spectators can get up and move around. Like a lot of the etiquette for tennis, it is about having respect for both the players and fellow supporters. Getting up and moving around during a point can be very distracting for the players and can put them off their game. It will also annoy the people around and behind you if you are trying to get to or from your seat during a point.
There are specific times during a match where you can get up and move around. As a general rule, you should wait until a break in play to move from your seat: this includes at the end of games and sets, and when the players change ends. Between points in a game is not an appropriate time to get up, as the time between points can last as little as a few seconds.
The best times to move are when the players change ends or at the end of a set when the players are also taking a small break. The players change ends after the first, third, fifth and so on. If you are coming back to the court during a game, ensure that you wait until a break to walk up to your seat - you don’t want to distract the players or fellow spectators. At larger competitions, there will often be stewards that will tell you when you can go to your seat.
