Core Power, Court Power: How Core Training Tennis Enhances Tennis Performance

Abstract

Tennis is a multidimensional sport requiring a combination of technical, tactical, and physical capacities, where core stability plays a pivotal role in performance and injury prevention. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a six-week structured core training program on balance, agility, and anaerobic performance parameters in male university-level tennis players. A total of 30 male students aged 18–23 years from Sivas Cumhuriyet University voluntarily participated in the study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). All participants underwent pre- and post-test assessments including flamingo balance test, vertical jump test, pro-agility test, and a core strength test (crunch test). The experimental group received core training sessions three times per week in addition to their regular tennis training, while the control group only followed the standard tennis training program. The intervention period lasted for six weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using paired sample t-tests for within-group comparisons and independent sample t-tests for between-group comparisons. The results indicated that the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in balance (p