This study examined physical and perceptual responses to multiple daily tennis matches. Six junior males completed 3 x min singles matches, each separated by 45 min recovery. Physical capacity (agility, countermovement jump [CMJ]), shoulder internal and external rotation (IR, ER), serve performance, creatine kinase (CK) and perceptual (soreness, pain, and fatigue) measures were performed before match 1 and following each match. During matches, distances and speeds covered, stroke count and stroke acceleration magnitudes were assessed. Between-match changes (effect size  90% confidence interval [CI]) 75% likely to exceed the smallest important effect size (ES=0.20) were considered practically important. Movement distance (-0.630.90, 81% likely) and mean speed (-0.610.82, 82% likely) decreased only in match 2. Total strokes played also reduced in match 2 (-11.017.7, 84% likely), without changes in stroke acceleration magnitudes. Serve accuracy declined post-match 3 (0.761.15, 81% likely), though speed did not change. CMJ height was unchanged, though shoulder IR and ER declined (-0.570.44, 92% likely), as did agility (0.750.35, 99% likely) by post-match 3. CK, pain, fatigue and soreness ratings increased throughout. Same-day tennis matches impair physical capacities and increase fatigue and soreness. Betweenmatch fluctuations in stroke count and movement also infer altered technical elements of match-play.

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This study analysed the competition scheduling of future top 100 and 250 ranked tennis players from international tournament profiles at ages 13-18y. Retrospective tournament data was analysed for 165 future top 100 (T100) and top 250 (T250) males during their junior international tournament eligibility. Tournament/match volumes, days between tournaments and consecutive tournaments (<8 days between) were quantified for junior and professional events. A two-way (age x ranking) analysis of variance determined the effects of age and ranking group on tournament profiles. Significant interactions were observed for tournament volumes across junior and professional categories, with T100 players competing in professional tournaments earlier (p<0.05). No significant interactions were observed for volumes of junior or professional matches played (p>0.05). No significant interactions were observed for days between tournaments or consecutive tournaments played (p>0.05).Significant main effects were observed for age on tournament volume, with junior and professional volume increasing at age 15 and 17, respectively (p<0.05). Higher match volumes were observed for T100 players compared to T100-S players (p<0.05). Competition schedules intensify at age 15 compared with ages 13-14y through increased tournament and match volumes. Future T100 players transition to professional tournaments earlier, alongside greater engagement in higher quality junior tournaments.

Aim This study analysed the periodisation of internal loads across training and competition blocks of future top 250 (T250) professionally ranked tennis players’ professional transitions. Methods Retrospective data was analysed from 10 male and 8 female Australian tennis players aged between 16 to 18 who later achieved professional rankings inside the T250. Session-rating of perceived exertion training load (sRPE TL) was collected from all sessions using an online application. Data were collected from official matches, on-court skill-based training, and off-court sessions (i.e., strength, conditioning, body management) and classified according to their occurrence in either training or competition blocks. Weekly sRPE TL was quantified for respective training and competition periods. One-way analysis of variance and effect size analyses compared within-sex training loads between training and competition blocks. Results Training blocks lasted longer than competitions for both sexes ( p < 0.05). Training blocks for males had greater daily durations ( p < 0.01), but not sRPE TL ( p = 0.08). Total load for females was not different between periods ( p > 0.05). Training blocks had higher on-court and off-court loads compared to competition ( p < 0.05). No difference in weekly training and competition loads were observed ( p > 0.05). Skill-based sessions in training periods were longer with higher loads for both sexes ( p < 0.05), with no difference in duration, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and sRPE TL observed between periods for off-court sessions ( p > 0.05). Conclusions Future T250 players experience higher sRPE TL in training blocks, with reductions in both total on-court and off-court load during tournaments. Regardless, limited evidence of periodised weekly loads exists within training and competition periods.