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

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to explore the processes associated with successful on-court movement in professional tennis. To date, research has only provided generalised insight into the physical demands of tennis movement and the requisite physical skills. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 international tennis and/or strength and conditioning coaches involved in the development of tennis-specific movement in professional men’s and women’s tennis. A descriptive, qualitative approach was adopted, with interviews transcribed verbatim and analysed using an inductive to deductive thematic analysis. The highlighted ideas and concepts enabled the dynamic construction of higher-order themes representative of “good” tennis movers, alongside the conceptual development of a common movement “goal” or “outcome”. The established higher-order themes portrayed three “styles” of “good” movers in modern professional tennis: those who were “fast” around the court, those who “read the play” well, and those who were “efficient” in their movement. The established themes provide a framework for interpreting and categorising the movement of professional tennis players as well as its underpinning skill.

KEYWORDS:

• Footwork
• movement patterns
• expert performance

Disclosure statement

The authors recognise that their professional backgrounds and current working positions may potentially influence the interview style and interpretation of stakeholder comments. Therefore, the authors would like to provide their working background so that the readers can interpret the results with all of the necessary information. Giles (Primary Author): PhD candidate and strength and conditioning coach within a National Tennis Federation. Peeling: Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology at an academic institution. Director of a High Performance Sport Research Centre, within a Sport Institute. Dawson: Professor of Exercise Physiology at an academic institution. Reid (Senior Author): Head of innovation at a National Tennis Federation. Former high-performance manager and strength and conditioning coach.