sports
January 13, 2026
The hidden hierarchy of tennis practice courts: ‘I was back in the park, smelling the weed’
The unwritten rule in professional tournaments? Do not hog the practice court. But as leading players testify – the reality is very different
TL;DR
- An unwritten rule in professional tennis tournaments is to not hog practice courts.
- Some players extend their practice sessions past the scheduled time, leading to friction.
- Court time is precious, and access to quality courts can differ based on player ranking.
- Players have different methods for handling situations where others exceed their allotted practice time.
- Ending a practice session on time can be stressful, sometimes leading to poor final shots.
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