ABSTRACT

Tennis is a sport characterized by a variety of demands on the human body, all depending on the level of play. Tennis requires coordination, agility, speed, quickness, cardio-respiratory endurance, local muscle endurance, strength and power. Each aspect becomes more important at higher levels of play. The somatic characteristics of body size, structure and composition are substantial determinants of athletic success. The training process of a tennis player should develop each fitness component and metabolic pathway, especially the anaerobic lactic and alactic system. Furthermore the training load may be modified by age and game style. A player’s game style and physical characteristics will have an impact on the type of conditioning the player should perform. At 14 years, girls can start an individualized physical conditioning programme according to their game style and physical characteristics recommended by the International Tennis Federation. Boys may begin such a programme soon thereafter. The question is whether biological or chronological age is more important for performance and training.