Effect of Sport Age on Selected Motor and Tennis Specific Performances on Tennis Players: An Observational Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of experience on selected motor and tennis specific performances in elite tennis players. Material and Methods: The study included 54 (24 female and 30 male) elite tennis players in the age range of 18-30 years, who have been actively playing tennis for at least 5 years and participated in national and international competitions. The participants were assessed for serve speed, agility performance, jumping performance, and dynamic balance. The serve speed test, shark skill test (SST), triple hop test (THT), and Y balance test were used to evaluate the serving performance, agility, jump performance, and dynamic balance, respectively. Results: Experience had a statistically significant and positive relationship with serving speed (r=0.662; p<0.01) and THT (r=0.497; p<0.01), and a significant negative relationship with the nondominant side SST (r=-0.417; p<0.01). However, there was no significant relationship between experience and dynamic balance (p>0.05). Conclusion:The athletic performance of individuals who are engaged in sports for longer period was better and thus, the experience should be taken into account when evaluating the sportive performance. The results obtained in our study are thought to be a reference for future studies by providing information to researchers in the development and evaluation of performance in tennis.