DETERMINANTS OF PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG TENNIS PLAYERS: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH

Date

2025-7

Author

Durmuş, Durukan

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This study examined the associations between rankings and physical, functional, psychological, and experiential characteristics in a sample comprising top 8 junior tennis players from U12, U14, U16 age categories. Forty-six players were included in both genders, with 8 participants per group, except for U14 boys. Data were collected on training age, racquet weight, string tension, weekly training volume, and age at tournament start. Tournament participation and match statistics were gathered from national and international websites. Players underwent assessments for anthropometry (height, weight, body fat percentage), physical fitness (grip strength, flexibility, countermovement jump, medicine ball throw, sprints for 5, 10, and 20 m, shuttle run), serve speed, reaction time, mental toughness, and motor coordination. Age at peak height velocity and growth status were calculated, and national team coaches completed a questionnaire on performance parameters. Significant correlations (p<0.05) were found between rankings and age at tournament start (U12 boys), body fat percentage (U12 girls; U14 boys), BMI (U12 girls), grip strength (U12 girls), flexibility (U12 girls), medicine ball throw (U16 boys), motor coordination (U12 girls), string tension (U12 girls), number of international tournaments (U12 girls), number of national and international singles and doubles matches (U14 boys; U16 boys), total tournaments and matches (U14 boys; U16 girls). Additionally, 41.4% of participants performed above the normal level in the motor coordination. Coaches emphasized motor coordination for U12 players and U14 girls, whereas mental toughness is emphasized for U14 boys and U16 players. The results may provide insight into the talent identification and development of young tennis players.

Subject Keywords

tennis, talent identification, talent development, top-ranked junior players

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/115130

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis