Background As an elementary prerequisite for organising an efficient training and optimal injury prevention programme, a differentiated analysis of the quality and quantity of running speed in competitive tennis is required. This analysis was taken from all the matches at the Men`s Australian Open 2006 from the quarter-final stages onwards. Methods Subjects: The eight ATP players had an age of 25.8 ± 3.8 years, a body height of 182.0 ± 5.4 cm and a BMI of 23.1 ± 1.2 kg/m2. Test procedure: By means of systematic video analysis and in accordance with selective criteria, we examined the movement direction and stretch (including error ratio) required for all strokes (with the exception of serve and return). Results Frequency: 44.7% or 1306 strokes took place under time pressure (TP), divided into 14.6% (427 strokes) with small time pressure (TP+), 15.9% (TP++) and 8.3% with high time pressure (TP+++); furthermore 1.3% (39 balls) were not reached and with 4.6% (TP+++) no run was attempted. Movement direction: During tennis practice, runs to the side (R-S) dominated at the baseline with 841 strokes (71.8%); followed by runs forward with 17.0% and runs to the back with 7.8%. Runs to the side at half court occurred infrequently (3.4%). Error ratio: The error ratio increased by a factor of 1.85 with backhand strokes during TP increasing from 13.5%+ (41/303) to 16.8%++ to 25.0%+++ (30 errors with 120 strokes); on the forehand side we established a double increase of the error ratio during increased time pressure (factor 2.01) from 13.7%+ (17 errors/124 strokes) to 21.0%++ to 27.5%+++. Conclusions In tennis training an improvement of the initial speed as well as an optimisation of the leg work should be aimed at whilst training sideways running directly before and after a stroke. Hereby one cannot only minimise the number of strokes during time pressure but also the intensity level of time pressure. The dominant frequency of sideways running during time pressure explains the relatively common occurrence of a supination trauma at the ankle joint. Fundamental running speed training (e.g. run ABC) and strictly quality-oriented training of tennis-specific movement techniques particularly with sideways running during time pressure are urgently recommended for injury prevention.
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