Diurnal variation in tennis service

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Human Performance

Background:

• Tennis serve performance can be influenced by various factors.
• Understanding the impact of circadian rhythms on athletic performance is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of time of day on tennis serve velocity and accuracy.
• To explore the relationship between serve speed, accuracy, and physiological factors.

Main Methods:

• Six competitive tennis players performed "first" (speed-focused) and "second" (accuracy-focused) serves at 09:00, 14:00, and 18:00.
• Serve velocity was measured via video analysis.
• Serve accuracy was assessed using the Hewitt Tennis Achievement Test.

Main Results:

• First serves were consistently faster than second serves across all times.
• First serves were fastest and least accurate at 18:00, coinciding with peak body temperature and grip strength.
• At 09:00, first serves were faster yet as accurate as second serves.

Conclusions:

• Time of day significantly affects tennis serve performance, particularly for speed-focused first serves.
• A non-linear relationship exists between serve velocity and accuracy, influenced by circadian rhythms.
• Peak physiological measures (body temperature, grip strength) at 18:00 may impair serve accuracy.