Research article - (2011)10, 540 - 545
Physiological Responses to On-Court vs Running Interval Training in Competitive Tennis Players
Jaime Fernandez-Fernandez1,2,, David Sanz-Rivas2,3, Cristobal Sanchez-Muñoz2,4, Jose Gonzalez de la Aleja Tellez2,5, Martin Buchheit6, Alberto Mendez-Villanueva6
1Department of Training and Exercise Science, Faculty of Sports Science, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
2Tennis Performance Research Group, Madrid, Spain
3Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, University Camilo Jose Cela, Madrid, Spain
4Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Spain
5Policlinica MAPFRE, Spain
6Physiology Unit, Sport Science Department, ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha, Qatar

Jaime Fernandez-Fernandez
✉ Ruhr Universität Bochum; Trainingswissenschaft, Stiepeler Str. 129 UHW/825, 44801 Bochum, GERMANY
Email: Jaime.fernandez-fernandez@rub.de
Received: 18-05-2011 -- Accepted: 19-07-2011
Published (online): 01-09-2011
ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare heart rate (HR), blood lactate (LA) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) responses to a tennis-specific interval training (i.e., on-court) session with that of a matched-on-time running interval training (i.e., off-court). Eight well-trained, male (n = 4) and female (n = 4) tennis players (mean ± SD; age: 16.4 ± 1.8 years) underwent an incremental test where peak treadmill speed, maximum HR (HRmax) and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) were determined. The two interval training protocols (i.e., off- court and on-court) consisted of 4 sets of 120 s of work, interspersed with 90 s rest. Percentage of HRmax (95.9 ± 2.4 vs. 96.1 ± 2.2%; p = 0.79), LA (6.9 ± 2.5 vs. 6.2 ± 2.4 mmol·L-1; p = 0.14) and RPE (16.7 ± 2.1 vs. 16.3 ± 1.8; p = 0.50) responses were similar for off-court and on-court, respectively. The two interval training protocols used in the present study have equivalent physiological responses. Longitudinal studies are still warranted but tennis-specific interval training sessions could represent a time-efficient alternative to off-court (running) interval training for the optimization of the specific cardiorespiratory fitness in tennis players.
Key words: Tennis, heart rate, blood lactate, rate of perceived exertion

Key Points
  • On-court interval training protocol can be used as an alternative to running interval training
  • Technical/tactical training should be performed under conditions that replicate the physical and technical demands of a competitive match
  • During the competitive season tennis on-court training might be preferred to off-court training








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Physiological Responses to On-Court vs Running Interval Training in Competitive Tennis Players
Jaime Fernandez-Fernandez, David Sanz-Rivas, Cristobal Sanchez-Muñoz, Jose Gonzalez de la Aleja Tellez, Martin Buchheit, Alberto Mendez-Villanueva
2011(10), 540 - 545.
DOI: https://doi.org/