Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose The purpose was to identify possible gender-specific differences in long-term serve efficiency development in professional women’s and men’s tennis. Methods The analyses focused on 2 approaches: (1) total tournament comparison and (2) 2nd tournament week vs. 1st tournament week comparison. The data include all single matches at the Wimbledon Championship between 2002 and 2015 (ladies: n = 1771, gentlemen: n = 1772). Results The findings showed significant development differences in favour of elite men over elite women in both comparisons. Regarding the total tournament comparison, men’s development of 2nd serve points won (p < 0.001; r = 0.86), 1st serves in (p < 0.05; r = 0.72), and double fault (p < 0.001; r = 0.85) percentages improved significantly more. As per the 2nd tournament week vs. 1st tournament week comparison, men’s development of 2nd serve points won (p < 0.05; r = 0.68) and double fault (p < 0.01; r = 0.86) percentages improved significantly more. Conclusions The study revealed serve efficiency development advantages for men over women in both comparisons, especially regarding the quality of the 2nd serve, whereas no development advantages in favour of women over men could be observed in any analysed parameter, indicating possible needs to adapt elite women’s coaching.
Source: Human Movement
Authors: Ralph Grambow, Philipp Born, Craig O’Shannessy, Jonas Breuer, Dominik Meffert, Tobias Vogt
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3210692045