The effect of an inclined landing surface on biomechanical variables during a jumping task
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Performance demands of professional male tennis players
by
Johnson CD, McHugh MP, Wood T, Kibler B.
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last modified
2009-10-09 15:17
Br J Sports Med. 2006 Aug;40(8):696-9; discussion 699.
OBJECTIVE: To quantify the performance demands in professional male tennis.
METHODS: Games from three grand slam tournaments were analysed by an elite tennis
player from video recordings. Game related data were collected on 22 players
(French Open, 8 (186 games); Wimbledon, 11 (206 games); US Open, 9 (224 games)).
Total number of strokes per game was quantified separately for service and return
games. Strokes were categorised by type and designated as forehand or backhand.
Differences in the types of strokes in a game were analysed using one factor
(type of stroke) repeated measures analysis of variance. Differences in total
strokes and stroke distributions between playing surfaces were analysed by
analysis of variance (surface type) with Tukey's post hoc pairwise comparisons.
RESULTS: For service games there were more serves per game than any other type of
stroke (p<0.001), with topspin forehand and topspin backhand the only other
strokes averaging more than one per service game. For return games there were
more forehand and backhand returns and topspin forehands and backhands than other
types of stroke (p<0.01). Total number of strokes per game was greater in the
French Open than Wimbledon (p<0.01), with more topspin forehands (p<0.01) and
more topspin backhands (p<0.01). Total strokes per game in the US Open were not
different from the other two tournaments. CONCLUSIONS: The serve was the
predominant stroke accounting for 45% (French Open) to 60% (Wimbledon) of strokes
during service games. The greater number of strokes per game on clay v grass may
contribute to earlier fatigue.