Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the exercise intensity and energy expenditure during four types of on-court tennis drills. Five female and five male tennis players participated in the study (age: 17 ± 2 years; : 54 ± 6 ml·kg−1·min−1). Anthropometric measures were taken for each player and, on separate days, each player performed (i) treadmill running to determine and (ii) four different tennis drills (Drill1-4) during which , blood lactate concentration, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE 6–20), and displacement of center of mass (m) using 3D kinematics were recorded. The drills were designed to simulate match play with 90 s of rest between each drill. A repeated two-way ANOVA was used for physiological and biomechanical data and Friedman's test for RPE using < α 0.05. Fractional utilization of was greatest during Drill1 81.8 ± 7.0% and lowest during Drill4 72.4 ± 5.2% (p < 0.001) with no difference between sexes (p > 0.05). The highest energy expenditure was during Drill1 and lowest during Drill4 (77 ± 15 and 49 ± 11 kcal, respectively, p < 0.05). Energy expenditure per meter for Drill1–Drill4 was subsequently reduced for each drill with 10.5 ± 2.1, 9.9 ± 2.2, 7.6 ± 1.7, and 8.0 ± 1.6 J·kg−1·m−1 (p < 0.01). There were no interaction effects for any of these variables. RPE (6–20) and blood lactate concentration post Drill1–Drill4 were 17.5, 15.5, and 13.0 (overall, legs and arms, p < 0.001) and 5.9 ± 2.0, 4.9 ± 1.9, 5.6 ± 2.0, and 5.0 ± 2.2 mmol·l−1 (p < 0.05). The findings of this study demonstrate that the on-court tennis drills performed here are suitable for high intensity training in junior tennis players. The energy expenditure per minute is comparable to similar sports whereas the energy expenditure per meter is notably greater.
Highlights
Tennis players need to master the complex techniques and sport-specific movements, for example the service motion and the movement patterns on-court, requiring acceleration and deceleration in combination with change of direction (Kovacs, 2006; Kovacs and Ellenbecker, 2011; Hoppe et al, 2014)
It has been reported that maximal oxygen uptake (V O2max) of high-level tennis players is in the range of 44–69 ml·kg−1·min−1, and above 50 ml·kg−1·min−1 in the majority of cases (Kovacs, 2006)
The men showed higher absolute V O2 values (l·min−1) compared to women for all drills, but in relative numbers as fractional utilization there were no differences between sexes
Summary
Tennis players need to master the complex techniques and sport-specific movements, for example the service motion and the movement patterns on-court, requiring acceleration and deceleration in combination with change of direction (Kovacs, 2006; Kovacs and Ellenbecker, 2011; Hoppe et al, 2014). Tennis has become a true physical challenge requiring strength, speed, Metabolic Demands During Tennis Drills power, agility, mobility, aerobic fitness, and anaerobic power output (Baiget et al, 2015). It has been reported that maximal oxygen uptake (V O2max) of high-level tennis players is in the range of 44–69 ml·kg−1·min−1, and above 50 ml·kg−1·min−1 in the majority of cases (Kovacs, 2006). Relative intensity of simulated tennis play and the responses to different training drills showed that drills were stroke-time-dependent, were an increase in number of strokes per drill required significantly greater heart rate, blood lactate concentrations, and oxygen uptake (V O2) up to two–three times of V O2max (Botton et al, 2011; Gomes et al, 2016). Energy expenditure expressed as V O2 and heart rate responses to standardized tennis drills exhibit large various across different drills (Bekraoui et al, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
