How do professional tennis players move? The perceptions of coaches and strength and conditioning experts

Determining the tactical and technical level of competitive tennis players using a competency model: a systematic review

Introduction

The aim of this systematic review is to provide an evidence-based synthesis of the literature on the topic of technical and tactical competencies of tennis players and to answer the following research questions: (1) What is the state of the art of research on technical and tactical competencies (i.e., skills and knowledge) and tennis; (2) What are the most important topics related to technical and tactical competencies in tennis players.

Methods

Electronic searches were conducted in Web of Science, PubMED and SPORTDiscus (August to September 2023). This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. To reduce risk, all published literature was searched and primary studies were included. The search terms included skills or competencies, match or play, player and tennis and excluded studies on non-competitive tennis players-notation analysis, AI method, systematic review and validation of tools.

Results and discussion

Of the 390 publications found in these searches, 13 articles were considered relevant and included in this study. They were divided into three categories: (1) technical-tactical skills, (2) match situations and (3) match performance. There was clear evidence that there is a test instrument for analyzing tactical-technical skills that has sufficient reliability and validity and is of practical value to tennis coaches. The development of tactical-technical skills is influenced by method (variability between/within skills), conditions (court size, ball type) and areas of development (situational awareness, anticipation, decision making). There are differences in match and stroke performance between different quality groups (professionals, juniors), which can also be influenced by mental strength. For a comprehensive study of tennis players' abilities, the use of modern technologies is possible and necessary in the future. Future research should focus on the creation of competency models for the playing level of tennis players, which could include at least three key elements: (1) key competencies, (2) description of standards, (3) evidence.

Navigating the Court: A Comparison of Distance Demands between Sexes in Grand Slam Tennis

This study analysed critical movement demands of tennis match-play to better inform contemporary approaches to athlete preparation and training. HawkEye data from matches during the 2021 and 2022 Australian Open were utilised. Distance was aggregated for movement cycles, points, games, sets, and matches, alongside total shots played. Data was collated for males (best-of-five sets) and females (best-of-three sets) allowing comparisons both within and between sexes. Overall, no differences within sexes were evident for total distance, however males traversed further per match than females (MDE = 809 ± 139m, ES = 0.86). Female players travelled further in their deciding (third) sets compared to set 1 (ES = 0.28) and while this effect wasn't as discernible for males, the deciding (fifth) set showed some evidence of elevated distance requirements and variability. Between sexes, only female set 3 was different to male set 3 (ES = 0.29). Female and male tiebreak games (i.e. game 13) required players travel further distance compared to other games (ES = ~1.45). Between sex differences were observed for tiebreak games compared to games 1 to 12 (female ES = 1.36 and male ES = 1.53). Players from both sexes generally covered similar distances during points and movement cycles, with between-shot distances of 4.2m-4.5m, notably longer than previous reports. Further, total shots and total match distance (r > 0.97; p < 0.01) shared similar linear relationships. These results highlight that the between shot or movement cycle demands of professional hard court tennis are substantially higher than described in the literature (Roetert et al., 2003). The findings also reveal competitiveness as a key influence on set level distance demands during professional tennis match-play, a consideration in player preparation programs.

Quantifying Change of Direction Movement Demands in Professional Tennis Matchplay: An Analysis From the Australian Open Grand Slam

ABSTRACT

Giles, B, Peeling, P, and Reid, M. Quantifying change of direction movement demands in professional tennis matchplay: An analysis from the Australian Open Grand Slam. J Strength Cond Res 38(3): 517-525, 2024-Change of direction (COD) contributes significantly to the movement repertoire of professional tennis players, yet the time-motion and degree demands of these changes are poorly understood. This study examines the velocity, acceleration, and angular displacement profiles of COD movements in modern professional tennis. One hundred eighty-two singles matches of Hawk-Eye player tracking data collected from the Australian Open Grand Slam were used for analysis. A novel COD classification algorithm was used to identify >120,000 medium and high-intensity CODs for analysis. Descriptive characteristics of the COD performance were calculated using player coordinate and time variables. Sex comparisons were analyzed using 2 mixed-effects models assessed for differences via likelihood ratios. Players performed 1.6 CODs per point. Both sexes executed, on average, 1.3-1.4 shots and covered 4.8 m per COD, with men performing changes every 2.7 seconds and women every 3.1 seconds. Medium-intensity COD comprised 88-94% of all identified changes. Approximately 2 in 3 CODs involved a degree of change >105°, whereas cutting maneuvers (<45°) were most commonly high-intensity COD. This study is the first to quantify the COD characteristics of professional tennis matchplay. Both sexes performed the same average number of CODs per point, however, men executed high-intensity changes twice as frequently as women, at an average of 1 every 5 points. These novel findings will help to improve the specificity of training interventions in elite tennis conditioning.

From The Ground Up: Expert Perceptions of Lower Limb Activity Monitoring in Tennis

Understanding on-court movement in tennis allows for enhanced preparation strategies to improve player readiness and performance. Here, we explore expert physical preparation coaches' perceptions of elite training strategies for preparation and performance in tennis, with special reference to lower limb activity. Thirteen world renowned tennis strength and conditioning coaches were interviewed in a semi-structured method that explored four key topic areas of physical preparation for tennis: i) the physical demands; ii) load monitoring practice; iii) the direction of ground reaction forces application during match-play; and iv) the application of strength and conditioning for tennis. Three higher-order themes emerged from these discussions: i) off-court training for tennis should be specific to the demands of the sport, ii) the mechanical understanding of tennis lags our physiological approach, and iii) our understanding of the lower limb's contribution to tennis performance is limited. These findings provide valuable insights into the importance of improving our knowledge relevant to the mechanical demands of tennis movement, whilst highlighting important practical considerations from leading tennis conditioning experts.

Differentiating movement styles in professional tennis: A machine learning and hierarchical clustering approach

PURPOSE

Recent explorations of tennis-specific movements have developed contemporary methods for identifying and classifying changes of direction (COD) during match-play. The aim of this research was to employ these new analysis techniques to objectively explore individual nuance and style factors in the execution of COD movements in professional tennis.

METHODS

Player tracking data from 62 male and 77 female players at the Australian Open Grand Slam were analysed for COD movements using a model algorithm, with a sample of 150,000 direction changes identified. Hierarchical clustering methods were employed on the time-motion and degree characteristics of these direction changes to identify groups of different COD performers.

RESULTS

Five unique clusters, labelled "Cutters", "Gear Changers", "Lateral Changers", "Balanced Changers" and "Passive Changers" were identified in accordance with their varying speed, acceleration, degree and directionality of change features.

CONCLUSIONS

Player COD clustering challenge previously held assumptions regarding on-court movement style, highlighting the complexity and variation in the sport's locomotion demands. In practice, the speed, acceleration, directionality and degree of change characteristics of each COD style can facilitate athlete profiling and the specificity of training interventions.HighlightsWe used machine learning techniques and cluster analysis methodology to explore the time motion characteristics of direction change skill in professional tennis.We present five unique types of change of direction style in professional tennis players. These include "Cutters", "Gear Changers", "Lateral Changers", "Balanced Changers" & "Passive Changers". These style classifications were established in accordance with their varying speed, acceleration, degree and directionality of change features.We show that the application of machine learning techniques to player tracking data can facilitate a more intricate understanding the sport's physical demands, which can be used to inform training programme design.

Prototype Machine Learning Algorithms from Wearable Technology to Detect Tennis Stroke and Movement Actions

This study evaluated the accuracy of tennis-specific stroke and movement event detection algorithms from a cervically mounted wearable sensor containing a triaxial accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer. Stroke and movement data from up to eight high-performance tennis players were captured in match-play and movement drills. Prototype algorithms classified stroke (i.e., forehand, backhand, serve) and movement (i.e., "Alert", "Dynamic", "Running", "Low Intensity") events. Manual coding evaluated stroke actions in three classes (i.e., forehand, backhand and serve), with additional descriptors of spin (e.g., slice). Movement data was classified according to the specific locomotion performed (e.g., lateral shuffling). The algorithm output for strokes were analysed against manual coding via absolute (n) and relative (%) error rates. Coded movements were grouped according to their frequency within the algorithm's four movement classifications. Highest stroke accuracy was evident for serves (98%), followed by groundstrokes (94%). Backhand slice events showed 74% accuracy, while volleys remained mostly undetected (41-44%). Tennis-specific footwork patterns were predominantly grouped as "Dynamic" (63% of total events), alongside successful linear "Running" classifications (74% of running events). Concurrent stroke and movement data from wearable sensors allows detailed and long-term monitoring of tennis training for coaches and players. Improvements in movement classification sensitivity using tennis-specific language appear warranted.

Applying the brakes in tennis: How entry speed affects the movement and hitting kinematics of professional tennis players

Purpose: Movement and stroke production are coupled when playing tennis but generally decoupled in training and research. This study explored the lower limb, trunk and racquet mechanics of tennis players performing running forehands at varying movement speeds. Methods: Eleven female and seven male professional tennis players hit forehand groundstrokes while travelling at different movement speeds (Low: 1.4-2.0 m s - 1 , Medium: 2.70-2.90 m s - 1 , High: 4.0-4.3 m s - 1 ). Kinematics were captured using a VICON camera system. Speed and sex effects were analysed using linear mixed-effects models. Results: Prior to impact, females increased drive leg loading kinematics, and reduced preparatory trunk rotation (-9°), while both sexes lengthened their final stride and backswing during high-speed trials. At impact, racquet-head speed was unchanged for male players but dropped 14% when females travelled at high entry speed (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Reduced trunk rotation and lower limb drive contributed to female players being unable to maintain racquet-head speed when moving at high speed. Conversely, male players generated similar racquet-head speed despite the different entry speeds necessitating lower limb joint adjustments. These findings highlight the different deceleration strategies employed by male and female tennis professionals and challenge the widely accepted training theory in tennis that emphasises hitting and moving actions being rehearsed separately.

What Do Olympic Shooters Think about Physical Training Factors and Their Performance?

BACKGROUND

Many aspects affect precision sports like shooting. Skills such as strength and balance are related to shooting performance and therefore, they should be trained. Thus, planned physical workouts can help to improve Olympic Shooting performance. The main objective of this study was to determine elite shooters' perspective about fitness trainings.

METHODS

Eight elite international shooters were interviewed using a semi-structured script validated by an expert shooting committee. Their responses were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative methods. The following categories were obtained: fitness training importance on performance, fitness professional support, precompetitive fitness exercises' orientation and intensity, main motor abilities, recovery process, fitness evaluation and test and physical training influence on the psychological state.

RESULTS

The results suggest that athletes consider physical training as a key factor in their performance. Shooters mainly train strength and endurance exercises, depending on the competitions schedule. However, no consensus exists regarding the professional in charge of fitness trainings, nor the recovery methods to minimize performance losses. In addition, general balance trainings or physical condition tests to evaluate the training progress do not seem to be used.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that there should be greater control of fitness training and recovery processes in Olympic shooting.

A machine learning approach for automatic detection and classification of changes of direction from player tracking data in professional tennis

The purpose of this study was to develop an automated method for identifying and classifying change of direction (COD) movements in professional tennis using tracking data. Three sport science and strength and conditioning experts coded match-play footage of nineteen professional tennis players (9 male and 10 female) from the Australian Open Grand Slam for COD of medium and high intensity. A total of 1,494 changes were identified and aligned with 2D player position sampled at 25 Hz based on camera tracking data. Several machine learning classifiers were trained and tested on a set of 1,128 time-motion features. A random forest algorithm was found to have the best out-of-sample performance, classifying medium and high intensity changes with an F1-score of 0.729. This research offers a novel and applicable way for utilising player tracking data and machine learning techniques to automatically identify and classify COD movements in professional tennis.