Energy Expenditure of a Male and Female Tennis Player during Association of Tennis Professionals/Women's Tennis Association and Grand Slam Events Measured by Doubly Labeled Water

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise Vol. 53; no. 12; p. 2628
• Main Authors: Ellis, Daniel G, Speakman, John, Hambly, Catherine, Morton, James P, Close, Graeme L, Lewindon, Dan, Donovan, Timothy F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Energy Intake - physiology; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Female; Humans; Isotopes - urine; Male; Tennis - physiology
• ISSN: 1530-0315
• DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002745

Doubly labeled water assessed TEE during a 17-d period analyzed by days 1 to 7 (P1) and 7-17 (P2) which included a Women's Tennis Association/Association of Tennis Professionals tournament and culminated at the Wimbledon Championships. Daily training and match loads were assessed using a 10-point Borg scale multiplied by time. Match data were provided by video analysis and player tracking technology. The TEE during P1 for the female player was 3383 kcal·d-1 (63.5 kcal·kg-1) fat-free mass (FFM) with 362 points played over 241 min in three matches covering a distance of 2569 m, with an additional 875 min training. During P2, TEE was 3824 kcal·d-1 (71.7 kcal·kg-1) FFM with 706 points played over 519 min during five matches, covering a distance of 7357 m with an additional 795 min training. The TEE during P1 for the male player was 3712 kcal·d-1 (56.3 kcal·kg-1) FFM with 133 points played over 88 min during one match covering 1125 m, with an additional 795 min training. During P2, TEE was 5520 kcal·d-1 (83.7 kcal·kg-1) FFM with 891 points played over 734 min during five matches, covering 10,043 m, with an additional 350 min training. This novel data positions elite tennis, played at the highest level, as a highly energetic demanding sport, highlighting that nutritional strategies should ensure sufficient energy availability during competition schedules.