Is Cheating and Gamesmanship Becoming the Norm in Tennis — and What Can We Do About It?

Competitive tennis has always been vulnerable to cheating and gamesmanship. At most levels, matches are self‑umpired, and players are responsible for their own line calls and conduct. After attending the Tamworth Capital of Country Easter Open (TCCEO), I left feeling disappointed by the behaviour modelled by several experienced adult players. Two matches in particular highlighted a “win at all costs” attitude that seems increasingly common.

Match 1:

In a Men’s Tier 2 singles semi‑final, an experienced player in his late 30s repeatedly used gamesmanship against a 14‑year‑old junior. This included aggressive challenges to line calls, calling lets where none occurred, claiming he was not ready to return serve, and repeatedly questioning the score in a way that undermined the junior’s confidence. After the match, I verbally reported the behaviour to the referee.

Match 2:

In the Men’s Tier 1 singles final, a group of experienced coaches and players positioned themselves near a baseline and made comments questioning one player’s calls. Their presence and commentary created a hostile environment, and the player responded emotionally throughout the match.

The TCCEO is a higher‑tier event than the Regional Matchplay Series (RMS) events I have attended since 2019. While I have seen occasional issues in RMS events, my overall experience there has been positive. Across my 35 years of competitive tennis and 25 years supporting players, cheating and gamesmanship have been constant challenges. I have seen juniors walk away from the sport because of them.

As a full‑time coach, I am passionate about helping players step into competitive tennis. I love the game, the challenge, and the process of improving. I want tennis to be a sport that inspires — not discourages — participation. As a member of the North West Regional Matchplay Committee, I feel a responsibility to help maintain and grow the game.

Change will not be easy. It requires a shift in behaviour and culture. I would genuinely like to speak with the players involved in these incidents and hear how they view their actions. I would also be interested in the officiating team’s perspective on how the rules were enforced. There is no simple solution, but I believe we all share responsibility for challenging poor behaviour and creating environments that are enjoyable and inspiring for players, parents, officials, supporters, and spectators.

My recommendations for players (adaptable for parents, coaches, officials, and spectators):

• Read the rules and regulations before entering an event.
• Establish your personal values as a competitor.
• Accept that you may encounter cheating or gamesmanship.
• Practice empathy — your opponent may be overwhelmed, inexperienced, or emotionally dysregulated.
• Have a plan for how you will respond if you believe you are being subjected to cheating or gamesmanship.
• After the match, consider whether to report the behaviour verbally or online.

If you want to explore your own behaviour or mindset, here are resources that have helped me:

• Fear Less — Pippa Grange
• Becoming a True Athlete — Laurence Halsted
• The Armour Paradox — Tanya Lawton
• DNA‑V model — Hayes & Ciarrochi
• The Tao of Pooh — Benjamin Hoff
• The Chimp Paradox — Steve Peters
• Where the Light Gets In — Ben Crowe

Each offers a different pathway toward becoming a more grounded, resilient, and values‑driven competitor.