BACKGROUND: Hitting volume is a key component of external load in tennis, as it reflects the cumulative demands associated with the repetitive execution of complex stroke actions during match play. Despite its relevance for workload monitoring and injury prevention, limited information is available regarding how hitting volume demands vary according to playing surface, tournament progression, and player level in elite professional tennis.
HYPOTHESIS: Hitting volume demands vary according to tournament, competition phase, and player ranking level.
METHODS: Match data were collected from 474 player-match observations (236 at the Australian Open and 238 at Roland Garros). Complete stroke count data were available for 384 player-match observations, comprising 214,874 analyzed strokes. Match duration, stroke counts, and rally length distributions were compared across tournaments, competition phases, and ranking groups.
RESULTS: Roland Garros matches were characterized by greater overall hitting volumes than Australian Open matches (P = 0.04), despite a similar number of points played. These differences were reflected in higher groundstroke volumes and a greater proportion of medium and long rallies at Roland Garro (P < 0.05). Competition phase was associated with differences in selected stroke-count variables and rally structure, with later-round matches showing a greater proportion of prolonged rallies (P < 0.05), although overall match duration and total stroke volume remained comparable. Differences according to player level were also identified. Top 10 players accumulated lower overall hitting volumes (P < 0.05) and exhibited a lower proportion of short rallies together with a greater proportion of prolonged exchanges than lower-ranked players (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Hitting volume demands were associated with tournament, competition phase, and player ranking level. These contextual factors should be considered when interpreting competition loads and planning training and recovery strategies during Grand Slam competition.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The reported competition reference values may assist coaches and sports medicine practitioners in optimizing surface-specific training prescription, workload monitoring, fatigue management, and return-to-play strategies in professional tennis.
STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.
Read the article: PubMed · Publisher (DOI)