Based in Lake Tahoe, California, Omer Rains is an experienced politician, lawyer, humanitarian, and environmentalist. Outside of his activities in roles such as chief international advisor to Save the Heart Mt. Everest Expedition, Omer Rains enjoys staying active by hiking and playing tennis.
Individuals attending their first tennis match may be surprised to find that the sense of etiquette and sportsmanship that governs the game extends to spectators as well. There are a number of behaviors first time tennis fans should familiarize themselves with in order to avoid being seen as an inconsiderate, inexperienced spectator.
Generally speaking, silence is the name of the game during a tennis match. Cell phones should be set to silent mode and conversations should be held at a low volume and limited to periods between points and changeovers. As a player lines up to serve and a point begins, spectators should make no noise whatsoever. They most certainly should not cheer or groan midway through a live point.
While fans can and should applaud after a point, booing or jeering one player is not considered good form in the “sport of kings.” Similarly, cheering is not expected in a point that ends in a double fault or unforced error.
Noise is not the only form of distraction fans should avoid. Tennis is a sport that demands high levels of concentration over extended periods of time. With this in mind, spectators are expected to sit still in their seats and make no noticeable movements during points. In fact, spectators are typically not permitted to leave or access their seats until changeovers, which can sometimes be separated by 10 minutes or more.
Finally, flash photography is strongly discouraged and should never be used during live points, particularly during night matches.
