Tennis Performance Isn't About Fitness Alone, Study Shows
Researchers discovered that elite teenage tennis players with identical aerobic fitness levels show dramatically different mechanical efficiency on court—meaning technique and footwork matter far more than raw VO2max. The finding could reshape how coaches train young athletes and how sports equipment companies design training programs, shifting focus from endurance metrics to skill-based optimization.
Originaltitel: External Mechanical Work Versus Energy Expenditure During on-Court Tennis Drills in Elite Adolescent Tennis Players
<p>Purpose</p><p>Tennis demands exceptional technical skills, speed, strength and endurance. Previous studies have highlighted the high energy expenditure during tennis drills due to constant directional changes. While metabolic monitoring and player tracking have been used to quantify exercise intensity and movements, mechanical efficiency (ME) in tennis remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate ME in tennis by combining metabolic and mechanical measurements during on-court drills.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Ten elite adolescent tennis players (males n = 5, females n = 5) performed a VO2max test on a treadmill and participated in three standard tennis drills, Spanish cross, lateral and inside out. During the tennis drill, full-body kinematics were captured, and energy expenditure was measured using a portable breath-by-breath gas analysis. ME was calculated for each drill, and individual differences were examined.</p><p>Results</p><p>Results revealed significant differences in energy expenditure and mechanical work between drills. ME was not associated with VO2max or running speed. highlighting the need to focus on other factors like strength, footwork technique, and neuromuscular training to enhance ME.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>This study underscores the complexity of ME in tennis, with individual variations and where factors like footwork technique, muscular strength and motor abilities might influence ME.</p>