Validity of Heart Rate-Based Models for Estimating Oxygen Uptake During Tennis Play

Baiget, E, Iglesias, X, and Rodríguez, FA. Validity of heart rate-based models for estimating oxygen uptake during tennis play. J Strength Cond Res 34(11): 3208-3216, 2020-This study aimed to assess the validity of an on-court tennis test (specific endurance tennis test [SET-Test]) and 2 heart rate (HR)-based methods for estimating oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2) in competitive tennis players. Thirty-five male players performed a SET-Test to relate test duration (minutes) and V[Combining Dot Above]O2. Two weeks later, 16 players performed a simulated match play set where HR and V[Combining Dot Above]O2 (V[Combining Dot Above]O2-PLAY, criterion value) were measured and then compared with V[Combining Dot Above]O2 values predicted from the HR/V[Combining Dot Above]O2 linear regression equations derived from the SET-Test (pV[Combining Dot Above]O2-TEST) and from the one set match play (pV[Combining Dot Above]O2-PLAY). Test duration and V[Combining Dot Above]O2-TEST were strongly correlated (r = 0.821, p < 0.001, SEE = 5.6 ml·kg·min), indicating that SET-Test outcome is a somewhat good indicator of aerobic fitness in tennis players, likely to be useful for training purposes. pV[Combining Dot Above]O2-PLAY and V[Combining Dot Above]O2-PLAY (criterion value) were strongly correlated (r = 0.832, p < 0.001) and SEE was moderate (3.5 ml·kg·min = 11.5%). pV[Combining Dot Above]O2-TEST differed from the criterion (32.4 ± 10.7 vs. 30.8 ± 8.6 ml·kg·min, p < 0.001) and, although strongly correlated (r = 0.689, p < 0.001), an overestimation occurred (mean Δ = 1.6 ml·kg·min = 4.9%), yielding a high SEE (4.8 ml·kg·min = 15.6%). We conclude that (a) SET-Test performance is a valid and moderately accurate predictor of V[Combining Dot Above]O2; and (b) the individual HR-V[Combining Dot Above]O2 regression equation generated during tennis match play predicts V[Combining Dot Above]O2 with greater accuracy than the regression derived from the SET-Test.