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Updated: May 9, 2025

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Published on: August 8, 2019

Sleep Patterns Alterations in Professional Tennis Players.

Donatella Marazziti¹, Angelo Gemignani², Elisabetta Parra¹

¹Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

Journal of Sleep Research

|May 7, 2025

Summary

Professional tennis players often experience poor sleep quality and stress-related sleep disturbances, impacting their recovery and performance. Addressing sleep hygiene and stress management is crucial for enhancing athletic wellbeing.

Keywords:

circadian rhythms sleep quality stress‐related sleep disturbances tennis players

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Last Updated: May 9, 2025

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Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World

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Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training

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Area of Science:

Sports Science
Sleep Medicine
Chronobiology

Background:

Sleep is vital for physical health, cognitive function, and overall wellbeing, especially for athletes.
Emerging research links circadian rhythms, recovery, and sport performance.
Understanding sleep in elite athletes is crucial for optimizing recovery and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate sleep quality and characteristics in professional tennis players.
To examine how sleep patterns and circadian rhythms influence athletic performance and wellbeing.

Main Methods:

Twenty professional tennis players (10 men, 10 women) participated.
Validated questionnaires assessed sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index), chronotype (Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire), and stress response (Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test).
Descriptive and t-test analyses were conducted.

Main Results:

Poor sleep quality was common among players, with women reporting worse outcomes.
While clinical insomnia was absent, subjective dissatisfaction and high stress-related sleep reactivity were noted.
A majority of players were morning chronotypes, aligning with training schedules.

Conclusions:

Professional tennis players face significant sleep challenges and stress-induced disturbances.
Targeted interventions focusing on sleep hygiene, stress management, and chronotype alignment are recommended.
Further longitudinal research is needed to explore the dynamic interplay between sleep, performance, and circadian rhythms.