Biomechanical profile of tennis match play: effects of playing surface

INTRODUCTION: The average duration of a tennis match is greater on clay compared to grass or concrete (O’Donoghue, Liddle, 1998), although the technical-tactical evolution of recent years has led to more similar playing times (Fabre et al., 2012). The average heart rate, the rally duration, the total distance and the distance run in each single point are greater on clay than on hard courts, while there are no surface-related differences concerning oxygen consumption (Murias et al., 2007). Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine biomechanical parameters of real tennis matches, also analysing potential surface-related differences. METHODS: Twenty-four matches played by twelve athletes (age 16±3 years, height 179±6cm, weight 69±11kg, years of competitive experience 9±3 and 5±2 training sessions each week) were analysed. Each participant played two matches: one on clay and one on a hard court, with a counterbalanced design. During matches, players were equipped with a 15Hz GPS SPI HPU device and a Polar H7 heart rate sensor. The parameters of speed (SP), heart rate (HR), acceleration (ACC) and deceleration (DEC) were examined calculating the percentage of the total time spent in each intensity threshold or the number of events performed. RESULTS: The average duration of matches was 76±24 and 69±17 minutes on clay (C) and on hard courts (H) respectively. The maximum heart rates (HRmax) were 185±14 (C) and 178±10 bpm (H), the average heart rates (HRav) were 144±14 bpm (C) and 139±12 bpm (H). The ANOVA and the post hoc showed significant differences regarding the considered parameters on both the surfaces. The t-test highlighted significant surface-related differences (p < 0,05, C > H, +26%) concerning accelerations performed between 50% and 60% of the maximum value and decelerations between 40% and 50% of the maximum (p < 0,05, H > C, +37%). DISCUSSION: The playing surface affects almost none of the considered parameters. On the other hand, on the same kind of court, many differences between the various intensities are present. These results are in keeping with Hoppe et al. (2016), which demonstrated that adults perform more accelerations greater than 4 m x s-2 and decelerations lower than -4 m x s-2 compared to adolescent players. REFERENCES O’donoghue PG., Liddle SD. A notational analysis of time factors of elite men’s and ladies’ singles tennis on clay and grass surfaces. J Sports Sci, 1998; 16: 592–3. Fabre J. B., Martin V., Gondin J., Cottin F., Gerlot L. Effect of playing surface properties on neuromuscular fatigue in tennis. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2012; 44(11):2182-9. Murias J., Lanatta D., Arcuri CR., Laino A. Metabolic and Functional Responses playing tennis on different surfaces. J Strenght Cond Res. 2007; 21(1): 112-117. Hoppe MW., Baumgart C., Freiwald J. Do Running Activities of Adolescent and Adult Tennis Players Differ During Play?. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2016; 11(6): 793-801