Mental Fatigue Impairs Second Serve Accuracy in Tennis Players

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The aim of this 2-week randomized, counterbalance and crossover study was to investigate the effect of acute mental fatigue (MF) on tennis serve performance and accuracy in tennis players. Methods: Ten male tennis players (18 ± 4 years, 1.80 ± 0.08 m; 71 ± 13 kg) were randomized to either the MF group (N = 5) that underwent an acute MF protocol or to a control (CON) group (N = 5). The MF condition consisted in a 30-min modified Stroop color word task performed before on-court serve speed test. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the perceptions of MF and motivation toward the upcoming technical tests. Results: Reduction over baseline score of Stroop test was noted in accuracy (N < .001), but not in reaction time (N = .968) in the MF group. Increments in perceived workload were detected (N < .001) in MF group compared to CON. No differences for first and second serve speed from deuce and advantage side were observed. Increment of percentage of failed second serves from the deuce side (N = .043) in MF were detected. Conclusions: An acute MF protocol reduced tennis serve accuracy from deuce side in male tennis players. Players should avoid cognitive efforts before training sessions and matches to prevent negative effects of their technical performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental exertion
• motor control
• tennis performance
• tennis serve

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Alessandro Gattanini for helping with recruitment and data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

IRB approval

Università degli Studi di Milano—n. 6/17

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.