Strength and Conditioning Practices in Competitive and High-Performance Tennis: A Survey-Based Investigation

Fernandez-Fernandez, J, Baiget, E, Colomar, J, Santos-Rosa, FJ, and Sanz-Rivas, D. Strength and conditioning practices in competitive and high-performance tennis: a survey-based investigation. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-The purpose of this study was to describe and benchmark contemporary strength and conditioning (S&C) practices among strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) working in elite and competitive tennis. Ninety-four SCCs from 19 countries completed an online survey covering background information, planning and periodization, strength and endurance training, speed and plyometrics, flexibility, physical testing, technology use, and programming. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, median, and interquartile range [IQR]) were used to summarize responses. Coaches were well qualified, with 58.5% (n = 55) holding a master's degree and 22.3% (n = 21) holding a PhD; most had a sport-science-related qualification (88.3%, n = 83), although only 40.4% (n = 38) reported any professional S&C accreditation. Most SCCs described their programs as evidence-informed and 75.5% (n = 71) considered their planning to be training periodization; 95.7% (n = 90) distinguished between off-season, preseason, and in-season phases. Median strength-training frequency was 2 (IQR 2-3), 3 (2-4), and 2 (2-3) sessions·wk-1 in off-season, preseason, and in-season, respectively, whereas endurance training was typically 2 (2-3), 2 (2-3), and 1 (1-2) sessions·wk-1. Almost all coaches used plyometrics (98.9%, n = 93), mainly all year round (85.1%, n = 80). Physical testing was common (92.6%, n = 87), although only 43.6% (n = 41) reported year-round testing. Technology use was widespread (96.8%, n = 91), with heart-rate monitors (73.4%, n = 69), mobile applications (58.5%, n = 55), and velocity-based devices (54.3%, n = 51) the most frequently reported tools. This first tennis-specific survey indicates that SCCs working in elite and competitive tennis are generally well qualified and implement structured, periodized S&C programs with regular strength, endurance, plyometric, and testing practices.