Effects of sports drinks on the maintenance of physical performance during 3 tennis matches: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

BackgroundTennis tournaments often involve playing several consecutive matches interspersed with short periods of recovery.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was firstly to assess the impact of several successive tennis matches on the physical performance of competitive players and secondly to evaluate the potential of sports drinks to minimize the fatigue induced by repeated matches.MethodsThis was a crossover, randomized controlled study. Eight male regionally-ranked tennis players participated in this study. Players underwent a series of physical tests to assess their strength, speed, power and endurance following the completion of three tennis matches each of two hours duration played over three consecutive half-days (1.5 day period for each condition). In the first condition the players consumed a sports drink before, during and after each match; in the second, they drank an identical volume of placebo water. The results obtained were compared with the third ‘rest’ condition in which the subjects did not play any tennis. Main outcomes measured were maximal isometric strength and fatigability of knee and elbow extensors, 20-m sprint speed, jumping height, specific repeated sprint ability test and hand grip strength.ResultsThe physical test results for the lower limbs showed no significant differences between the three conditions. Conversely, on the upper limbs the EMG data showed greater fatigue of the triceps brachii in the placebo condition compared to the rest condition, while the ingestion of sports drinks attenuated this fatigue.ConclusionsThis study has demonstrated for the first time that, when tennis players are adequately hydrated and ingest balanced meals between matches, then no large drop in physical performance is observed even during consecutive competitive matches.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01353872.

Effects of Beetroot Juice Ingestion on Physical Performance in Highly Competitive Tennis Players

“…We observed that serve velocity increased 1.2% with BJ ingestion, not reaching statistical significance in our study (p = 0.536). Although no previous studies have been developed with the ingestion of BJ on physical tennis performance, the ingestion of other ergogenic aids or nutritional supplements such as caffeine (3.77% improvement against PLA) in tennis serve [13] or sports drinks reducing fatigue after tennis match [45] have demonstrated higher effects in tennis performance compared with BJ ingestion. Also, vertical jumps are commonly involved during tennis training/matches in different tennis-specific actions (e.g., serves/smashes).…”

Playing not once, not twice but three times in a day: the effect of fatigue on performance in junior tennis players

“…The nature of elite junior tennis competition can demand that players compete in multiple matches in a single day (Bergeron, 2009;Bergeron, 2014;Brink-Elfegoun et al, 2014). Tight schedules, combined with weather interruptions and unknown match durations often force scheduling changes that result in players needing to compete in multiple daily matches (Brink-Elfegoun et al, 2014). Internationally, tennis organisations implement their own policies to regulate the format and maximum number of daily matches in which junior players can compete, without any uniform standard.…”

“…To date, there has only been one study that has investigated the physical performance response of tennis players competing in multiple singles matches, with three matches over a 36 h period (Brink-Elfegoun et al, 2014). The results revealed no significant decrease in CMJ height, 20-m sprint and isometric strength of the knee extensors following two 2 h tennis matches on day 1 and a third the following morning (Brink-Elfegoun et al, 2014). However, it is important to note that the study participants had an age of ≈26 y and played 2 matches of 2 h in duration separated by a 3 h recovery period on day 1.…”

The effects of the intake of an isotonic sports drink before orienteering competitions on skeletal muscle damage

“…The physical test results for the lower limbs showed no significant differences between the groups. Conversely, on the upper limbs the EMG data showed greater fatigue of the triceps brachii in the placebo condition compared to resting, while the ingestion of sports drinks attenuated this fatigue18 ) . In another study, six male volunteers exercised to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer at a workload which required approximately 70% of Vo2max.…”