Well-being as a performance pillar: a holistic approach for monitoring tennis players.

This perspective article aims to discuss the usefulness of tools that can assist tennis professionals effectively manage the well-being of their players. This includes identifying and monitoring meaningful metrics (i.e., training load, training intensity, heart rate variability), as well as careful planning of training and competition schedules with appropriate recovery periods. The use of innovative training methods (i.e., repeated-sprint training in hypoxia and heat training), and proper dietary practices, along with biometric assessment for young players, represents should be considered. Adopting a holistic approach to decision-making about training and competition, balancing both health and performance considerations, is crucial for tennis players and their support teams. More research is needed to refine best practices for enhancing tennis performance while prioritizing the well-being of players.

On the Use of the Repeated-Sprint Training in Hypoxia in Tennis.

PURPOSE: To examine physiological and technical responses to repeated-sprint training in normobaric hypoxia at ∼3,000 m (RSH, n = 11) or in normoxia (RSN, n = 11) compared to a control group (CON, n = 8) in well-trained tennis players. Participants were 28.8 ± 5.9 years old without any previous experience of training in hypoxia. METHODS: In addition to maintaining their usual training (CON), both RSH and RSN groups completed five tennis specific repeated-shuttle sprint sessions (4 × 5 × âˆ¼8 s maximal sprints with ∼22 s passive recovery and ∼5 min rest between sets) over 12 days. Before (Pre), the week after (Post-1) and 3 weeks after Post-1 (Post-2), physical/technical performance during Test to Exhaustion Specific to Tennis (TEST), repeated-sprint ability (RSA) (8 × âˆ¼20 m shuttle runs-departing every 20 s) and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed. RESULTS: From Pre to Post-1 and Post-2, RSH improved TEST time to exhaustion (+18.2 and +17.3%; both P < 0.001), while the "onset of blood lactate accumulation" at 4 mmol L-1 occurred at later stages (+24.4 and +19.8%, both P < 0.01). At the same time points, ball accuracy at 100% V̇O2m ax increased in RSH only (+38.2%, P = 0.003 and +40.9%, P = 0.007). Markers of TEST performance did not change for both RSN and CON. Compared to Pre, RSA total time increased significantly at Post-1 and Post-2 (-1.9 and -2.5%, P < 0.05) in RSH only and this was accompanied by larger absolute Δ total hemoglobin (+82.5 and +137%, both P < 0.001). HRV did not change either supine or standing positions. CONCLUSION: Five repeated sprint training sessions in hypoxia using tennis specific shuttle runs improve physiological and technical responses to TEST, RSA, and accompanying muscle perfusion responses in well-trained tennis players.

Effects of Repeated-Sprint Training in Hypoxia on Tennis-Specific Performance in Well-Trained Players.

This study examined the physiological, physical and technical responses to repeated-sprint training in normobaric hypoxia [RSH, inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO 2 ) 14.5%] vs. normoxia (RSN, FiO 2 20.9%). Within 12 days, eighteen well-trained tennis players (RSH, n=9 vs. RSN, n=9) completed five specific repeated-sprint sessions that consisted of four sets of 5 maximal shuttle-run sprints. Testing sessions included repeated-sprint ability and Test to Exhaustion Specific to Tennis (TEST). TEST's maximal duration to exhaustion and time to attain the 'onset of blood lactate accumulation' at 4 mMol.L -1 (OBLA) improvements were significantly higher in RSH compared to RSN. Change in time to attain OBLA was concomitant with observations similar in time to the second ventilatory threshold. Significant interaction (P=0.003) was found for ball accuracy with greater increase in RSH (+13.8%, P=0.013) vs. RSN (-4.6%, P=0.15). A correlation (r=0.59, P<0.001) was observed between change in ball accuracy and TEST's time to exhaustion. Greater improvement in some tennis-specific physical and technical parameters was observed after only 5 sessions of RSH vs. RSN in well-trained tennis players.

Differences within Elite Female Tennis Players during an Incremental Field Test.

PURPOSE: To compare technical and physiological responses between junior and professional female players during an incremental field test to exhaustion specific to tennis. METHODS: Twenty-seven female players (n = 14 and 13 for juniors and professionals, respectively) completed an incremental field test to exhaustion specific to tennis, which consisted of hitting alternatively forehand and backhand strokes at increasing ball frequency (ball machine) every minute. Ball accuracy and ball velocity were determined by radar and video analysis for each stroke, in addition to cardiorespiratory responses (portable gas analyzer). RESULTS: The stage corresponding to the second ventilatory threshold (+20.0%, P = 0.027), time to exhaustion (+18.9%, P = 0.002) and maximum oxygen uptake (+12.4%, P = 0.007) were higher in professionals than in juniors. The relative percentage of maximal HR was lower at both the first (-4.7%, P = 0.014) and the second (-1.3%, P = 0.018) ventilatory thresholds in professionals. Backhand ball velocity was the only technical parameter that displayed larger (+7.1%, P = 0.016) values in professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with juniors, female professional tennis players possess higher exercise capacity, maximal and submaximal aerobic attributes along with faster backhand stroke velocities during an incremental field test specific to tennis.

Technical Alterations during an Incremental Field Test in Elite Male Tennis Players.

PURPOSE: We investigated technical and physiological responses along with their relationships during an incremental field test to exhaustion specific to tennis (TEST) in elite players. METHODS: Twenty male elite tennis players completed TEST, which consisted of hitting alternatively forehand and backhand strokes at increasing ball frequency (ball machine) every minute. Ball accuracy (BA), ball velocity (BV), and tennis performance (TP) index (TP = BA × BV) were determined by radar and video analysis for each stroke, in addition to cardiorespiratory responses and blood lactate concentrations. RESULTS: At low intensities (less than 80% of maximal oxygen uptake [V˙O2max]), technical performance was steady. From 80% to 100% of V˙O2max, significant and steady decreases in BV (-9.0% and -13.3%; P = 0.02 and P = 0.002), BA (-19.4% and -18.4%; both P < 0.001), and TP (-27.4% and -29.15%; both P = 0.002) occurred for forehands and backhands, respectively. Changes in TP and blood lactate concentration from 60% to 100% of V˙O2max were inversely correlated (r = -0.51, P = 0.008). BV was 5.2% higher (P = 0.042) for forehand versus backhand, and there was no difference between strokes for both BA (P = 0.930) and TP (P = 0.536). CONCLUSION: Technical alterations (i.e., decrease in BV, BA, and TP) in elite players undergoing TEST only occurred at high intensity (>80% of V˙O2max), presumably because of the use of compensatory strategies to overcome fatigue. Above this intensity, all technical indices decreased steadily until exhaustion, independently of the stroke nature.

Accuracy and Reliability of a New Tennis Ball Machine.

UNLABELLED: The aim was to evaluate the reliability of a newly-developed ball machine named 'Hightof', on the field and to assess its accuracy. The experiment was conducted in the collaboration of the 'Hawk-Eye' technology. The accuracy and reliability of this ball machine were assessed during an incremental test, with 1 min of exercise and 30 sec of recovery, where the frequency of the balls increased from 10 to 30 balls·min(-1). The initial frequency was 10 and increased by 2 until 22, then by 1 until 30 balls·min(-1). The reference points for the impact were 8.39m from the net and 2.70m from lateral line for the right side and 2.83m for the left side. The precision of the machine was similar on the right and left sides (0.63 ± 0.39 vs 0.63 ± 0.34 m). The distances to the reference point were 0.52 ± 0.42, 0.26 ± 0.19, 0.52 ± 0.37, 0.28 ± 0.19 m for the Y-right, X-right, Y-left and X-left impacts. The precision was constant and did not increase with the intensity. (e.g ball frequency). The ball velocity was 86.3 ± 1.5 and 86.5 ± 1.3 km·h(-1) for the right and the left side, respectively. The coefficient of variation for the velocity ranged between 1 and 2% in all stages (ball velocity ranging from 10 to 30 balls·min(-1)). CONCLUSION: both the accuracy and the reliability of this new ball machine appear satisfying enough for field testing and training. Key pointsThe reliability and accuracy of a new ball machine named 'Hightof' were assessed.The impact point was reproducible and similar on the right and left sides (±0.63 m).The precision was constant and did not increase with the intensity (e.g ball frequency).The coefficient of variation of the ball velocity ranged between 1 and 2% in all stages (ball velocity ranging from 10 to 30 balls·min(-1)).

On the Use of a Test to Exhaustion Specific to Tennis (TEST) with Ball Hitting by Elite Players.

PURPOSE: We aimed to a) introduce a new Test to Exhaustion Specific to Tennis (TEST) and compare performance (test duration) and physiological responses to those obtained during the 20-m multistage shuttle test (MSST), and b) determine to which extent those variables correlate with performance level (tennis competitive ranking) for both test procedures. METHODS: Twenty-seven junior players (8 males, 19 females) members of the national teams of the French Tennis Federation completed MSST and TEST, including elements of the game (ball hitting, intermittent activity, lateral displacement), in a randomized order. Cardiorespiratory responses were compared at submaximal (respiratory compensation point) and maximal loads between the two tests. RESULTS: At the respiratory compensation point oxygen uptake (50.1 ± 4.7 vs. 47.5 ± 4.3 mL.min(-1).kg(-1), p = 0.02), but not minute ventilation and heart rate, was higher for TEST compared to MSST. However, load increment and physiological responses at exhaustion did not differ between the two tests. Players' ranking correlated negatively with oxygen uptake measured at submaximal and maximal loads for both TEST (r = -0.41; p = 0.01 and -0.55; p = 0.004) and MSST (r = -0.38; P = 0.05 and -0.51; p = 0.1). CONCLUSION: Using TEST provides a tennis-specific assessment of aerobic fitness and may be used to prescribe aerobic exercise in a context more appropriate to the game than MSST. Results also indicate that VO2 values both at submaximal and maximal load reached during TEST and MSST are moderate predictors of players competitive ranking.