Tennis: Testing and Performance

Editorial

03 April 2023

Editorial: Tennis: Testing and performance

Miguel Crespo

and

Rafael Martinez-Gallego

2,204 views

3 citations

Editors

Miguel Crespo

International Tennis Federation (ITF)

Rafael Martínez-Gallego

University of Valencia

Impact

Sagittal spinal curvatures assessment in three trunk positions. (A) neutral standing, (B) maximal trunk flexion, (C) maximal trunk extension, and (D) thoracic angle at.

Original Research

03 March 2023

Effects of an 8-week multimodal program on thoracic posture, glenohumeral range of motion and serve performance in competitive young tennis players

Tom Le Solliec

, 1 more and

Isabelle Rogowski

3,393 views

5 citations

Illustration of the D4T with various tactical situations. This figure shows the test situation of the D4T with various tactical situations. The symbols represent the three ball projections in an offensive (▴), neutral (▪) and defensive (●) tactical situation.

Original Research

01 March 2023

Technical skills in complex tennis situations: Dutch talented players U15 compared to players U17

Nikki S. Kolman

, 2 more and

Marije T. Elferink-Gemser

2,942 views

1 citations

Original Research

27 February 2023

Relevance of force-velocity and change of direction assessments for the ranking position in elite junior tennis players

Nicola Reiner Volk

, 1 more and

Alexander Ferrauti

3,168 views

5 citations

Physiological measurements at each time point. The HIGH group is indicated by a white symbol and the LOW group by a black symbol. (A) Blood lactate concentration pre and post hitting test before the simulated match-play tennis protocol and each set. Circles indicate pre-test, triangles, squares, and diamonds indicate 1st to 3rd sets, respectively. Significant differences between pre and post in HIGH and LOW are marked with “*” or “†”, respectively. Significant differences between HIGH and LOW in post are marked with “‡”. (B–E) Heart rate, % Heart rate reserve, oxygen uptake and pulmonary ventilation at each time point (game 1, game 8 and Hitting test). Circles, squares, and diamonds indicate 1st to 3rd sets, respectively. Significant differences between time points are marked with “*”. (F) Respiratory exchange ratio at each time point (set 1, set 2 and set 3). The HIGH group is indicated by a white symbol and the LOW group by a black symbol. Circles indicate pre-test, triangles, squares, and diamonds indicate game 1, game 8 and the hitting test, respectively. Significant differences in RER between sets at each time point, game 1, game 8 and the hitting test are marked with “*”, “†” and “‡”, respectively.

Brief Research Report

13 February 2023

Physiological demands in simulated tennis matches and hitting tests take account of the translational and rotational kinetic energy ratio of the ball

Munenori Murata

and

Takashi Naito

2,478 views

0 citations

Effects of athletic training on measures of speed (e.g., 20 m sprint time) in healthy youth and adult tennis players. CI = confidence interval, df = degrees of freedom, SE = standard error, IV = inverse variance.

Systematic Review

10 January 2023

Effects of athletic training on physical fitness and stroke velocity in healthy youth and adult tennis players: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Johanna Lambrich

and

Thomas Muehlbauer

4,996 views

10 citations

Original Research

27 September 2022

Self-assessed tactical skills in tennis players: Psychometric evaluation of the Tactical Skills Questionnaire in Tennis

Nikki S. Kolman

, 3 more and

Marije T. Elferink-Gemser

3,377 views

2 citations

Original Research

17 February 2022

Eccentric and Isometric Shoulder Rotation Strength and Range of Motion: Normative Values for Adolescent Competitive Tennis Players

Fredrik Johansson

, 4 more and

Ann Cools

Measurement of isometric muscle strength of the internal rotators using a hand-held dynamometer (CompuFET, Hoggan Health Industries Inc., Groningen, The Netherlands).

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate isometric internal rotation (IR), external rotation (ER), abduction (ABD), and eccentric external rotation (eccER) shoulder strength and rotational range of motion (ROM) in adolescent male and female competitive tennis players. Additional aims of the study were to provide a tennis-specific normative database based on a large sample of players to deepen the knowledge regarding shoulder strength and ROM for adolescent competitive tennis players, and to discuss differences based on sex, age, and level of play. Shoulder strength and ROM was assessed in 301 adolescent competitive tennis players, 176 boys and 125 girls with a mean age of 14.6 and 14.4 years, respectively. Outcome variables of interest were isometric IR and ER strength, ABD strength, eccER shoulder strength, intermuscular strength ratios ER/IR and eccER/IR, IR ROM, ER ROM, and total range of motion (TROM). A General Linear Model two-way ANOVA was used to analyze differences in sex, age, and level of play. The findings of this study demonstrated age, side, and sex differences in the shoulder isometric strength, the eccER strength and ROM in adolescent competitive tennis players. Furthermore, when strength was expressed as ratios ER/IR and eccER/IR both sexes showed a lower ratio for eccER/IR in national players (0.95 ± 0.22 and 0.95 ± 0.23) compared to regional players (1.01 ± 0.32 and 1.07 ± 0.29) for male and female players, respectively. In conclusion, this paper presents a tennis-specific normative database for shoulder rotation strength and ROM in adolescent male and female competitive players. The key points in this evaluation are strength values normalized to body mass, intermuscular ratios, and TROM.

8,055 views

16 citations

Labels of coaches, C1 (top) and C2 (bottom), for their respective players (P1 and P2, P3 and P4) according to individual scores and score differences.

Brief Research Report

17 June 2022

Toward Detecting the Zone of Elite Tennis Players Through Wearable Technology

Hayati Havlucu

, 3 more and

Oguzhan Ozcan

2,391 views

5 citations

Picture of the calibrated measuring volume with the majority of the motion capture cameras visible.

Original Research

17 July 2020

Metabolic Demands, Center of Mass Movement and Fractional Utilization of V˙O2max in Elite Adolescent Tennis Players During On-Court Drills

Glenn Björklund

, 3 more and

Fredrik Johansson

The aim of the study was to investigate the exercise intensity and energy expenditure during four types of on-court tennis drills. Five female and five male tennis players participated in the study (age: 17 ± 2 years; $\overset{∙}{V} O_{2 m a x}$ : 54 ± 6 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). Anthropometric measures were taken for each player and, on separate days, each player performed (i) treadmill running to determine $\overset{∙}{V} O_{2 m a x}$ and (ii) four different tennis drills (Drill1-4) during which $\overset{∙}{V} O_{2}$ , blood lactate concentration, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE 6–20), and displacement of center of mass (m) using 3D kinematics were recorded. The drills were designed to simulate match play with 90 s of rest between each drill. A repeated two-way ANOVA was used for physiological and biomechanical data and Friedman's test for RPE using < α 0.05. Fractional utilization of $\overset{∙}{V} O_{2 m a x}$ was greatest during Drill1 81.8 ± 7.0% and lowest during Drill4 72.4 ± 5.2% (p < 0.001) with no difference between sexes (p > 0.05). The highest energy expenditure was during Drill1 and lowest during Drill4 (77 ± 15 and 49 ± 11 kcal, respectively, p < 0.05). Energy expenditure per meter for Drill1–Drill4 was subsequently reduced for each drill with 10.5 ± 2.1, 9.9 ± 2.2, 7.6 ± 1.7, and 8.0 ± 1.6 J·kg⁻¹·m⁻¹ (p < 0.01). There were no interaction effects for any of these variables. RPE (6–20) and blood lactate concentration post Drill1–Drill4 were 17.5, 15.5, and 13.0 (overall, legs and arms, p < 0.001) and 5.9 ± 2.0, 4.9 ± 1.9, 5.6 ± 2.0, and 5.0 ± 2.2 mmol·l⁻¹ (p < 0.05). The findings of this study demonstrate that the on-court tennis drills performed here are suitable for high intensity training in junior tennis players. The energy expenditure per minute is comparable to similar sports whereas the energy expenditure per meter is notably greater.