Differences within Elite Female Tennis Players during an Incremental Field Test

Purpose To compare technical and physiological responses between junior and professional female players during an incremental field test to exhaustion specific to tennis (TEST). Methods Twenty-seven female players (n=14 and 13 for juniors and professionals, respectively) completed an incremental field test to exhaustion specific to tennis, which consisted of hitting alternatively forehand and backhand strokes at increasing ball frequency (ball machine) every minute. Ball accuracy and ball velocity were determined by radar and video analysis for each stroke, in addition to cardiorespiratory responses (portable gas analyzer). Results The stage corresponding to the second ventilatory threshold (+ 20.0%, P = 0.027), time to exhaustion (+ 18.9%, P = 0.002) and V[Combining Dot Above]O2max (+ 12.4%, P = 0.007) were higher in professionals than in juniors. The relative percentage of maximal heart rate was lower at both the first (– 4.7%, P = 0.014) and the second (– 1.3%, P = 0.018) ventilatory thresholds in professionals. Backhand ball velocity was the only technical parameter that displayed larger (+ 7.1%, P = 0.016) values in professionals. Conclusion Compared to juniors, female professional tennis players possess higher exercise capacity, maximal and submaximal aerobic attributes along with faster backhand stroke velocities during an incremental field test specific to tennis. Address for correspondence: Cyril Brechbuhl, French Tennis Federation, National Tennis Center, 4 Place de la Porte Molitor, 75016 Paris, France. Tel: +33 675 00 16 46. e-mail: cyril.brechbuhl@fft.fr The authors have no conflicts of interest, source of funding, or financial ties to disclose and no current or past relationship with companies or manufacturers who could benefit from the results of the present study. The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation, and statement that results of the present study do not constitute endorsement by ACSM. Submitted for publication April 2018. Accepted for publication June 2018. © 2018 American College of Sports Medicine

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