UNASSIGNED: The aim of this systematic review is to provide an evidence-based synthesis of the literature on the topic of technical and tactical competencies of tennis players and to answer the following research questions: (1) What is the state of the art of research on technical and tactical competencies (i.e., skills and knowledge) and tennis; (2) What are the most important topics related to technical and tactical competencies in tennis players.
UNASSIGNED: Electronic searches were conducted in Web of Science, PubMED and SPORTDiscus (August to September 2023). This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. To reduce risk, all published literature was searched and primary studies were included. The search terms included skills or competencies, match or play, player and tennis and excluded studies on non-competitive tennis players-notation analysis, AI method, systematic review and validation of tools.
UNASSIGNED: Of the 390 publications found in these searches, 13 articles were considered relevant and included in this study. They were divided into three categories: (1) technical-tactical skills, (2) match situations and (3) match performance. There was clear evidence that there is a test instrument for analyzing tactical-technical skills that has sufficient reliability and validity and is of practical value to tennis coaches. The development of tactical-technical skills is influenced by method (variability between/within skills), conditions (court size, ball type) and areas of development (situational awareness, anticipation, decision making). There are differences in match and stroke performance between different quality groups (professionals, juniors), which can also be influenced by mental strength. For a comprehensive study of tennis players\' abilities, the use of modern technologies is possible and necessary in the future. Future research should focus on the creation of competency models for the playing level of tennis players, which could include at least three key elements: (1) key competencies, (2) description of standards, (3) evidence.

The treatment of myofascial pain in athletes requires a set of rehabilitation techniques that aim to be effective quickly. In this context, dry needling (DNY) has shown interesting results due to its ability to reduce pain in the short term. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of DNY in managing myofascial shoulder pain in overhead athletes. PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were screened up to March 2024, to identify studies that met the following inclusion criteria: overhead athletes with shoulder pain with a DNY approach for myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), RCT, case-control study, feasibility study as the study design. Exclusion criteria were studies that did not include athletes, studies that did not focus on the treatment of MTrPs with DNY, other reviews, no full-text availability and papers written in a language other than English. Out of 399 articles, 165 were excluded as duplicates. Of the 234 articles screened, only 6 articles met the inclusion criteria. A total of 6 studies were included in the systematic review. Initial results showed that DNY improved pain rapidly and in the short term; however, there is still no consensus on the minimum number and the interval between treatments. Major findings reported a rapid potential decrease in perceived pain, shoulder disability and an increase in muscle strength; in this scenario, DNY might be a valid solution in a sports rehabilitation setting.

BACKGROUND: Wheelchair tennis, a globally popular sport, features a professional tour spanning 40 countries and over 160 tournaments. Despite its widespread appeal, information about the physical demands of wheelchair tennis is scattered across various studies, necessitating a comprehensive systematic review to synthesise available data.
OBJECTIVE: The aim was to provide a detailed synthesis of the physical demands associated with wheelchair tennis, encompassing diverse factors such as court surfaces, performance levels, sport classes, and sexes.
METHODS: We conducted comprehensive searches in the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases, covering articles from inception to March 1, 2023. Forward and backward citation tracking from the included articles was carried out using Scopus, and we established eligibility criteria following the Population, Exposure, Comparison, Outcome, and Study design (PECOS) framework. Our study focused on wheelchair tennis players participating at regional, national, or international levels, including both juniors and adults, and open and quad players. We analysed singles and doubles matches and considered sex (male, female), sport class (open, quad), and court surface type (hard, clay, grass) as key comparative points. The outcomes of interest encompassed play duration, on-court movement, stroke performance, and physiological match variables. The selected study designs included observational cross-sectional, longitudinal, and intervention studies (baseline data only). We calculated pooled means or mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and employed a random-effects meta-analysis with robust variance estimation. We assessed heterogeneity using Cochrane Q and 95% prediction intervals.
RESULTS: Our literature search retrieved 643 records, with 24 articles meeting our inclusion criteria. Most available information focused on international male wheelchair tennis players in the open division, primarily competing in singles on hard courts. Key findings (mean [95% CI]) for these players on hard courts were match duration 65.9 min [55.0-78.8], set duration 35.0 min [28.2-43.5], game duration 4.6 min [0.92-23.3], rally duration 6.1 s [3.7-10.2], effective playing time 19.8% [18.9-20.7], and work-to-rest ratio 1:4.1 [1:3.7-1:4.4]. Insufficient data were available to analyse play duration for female players. However, for the available data on hard court matches, the average set duration was 34.8 min [32.5-37.2]. International male players on hard court covered an average distance per match of 3859 m [1917-7768], with mean and peak average forward speeds of 1.06 m/s [0.85-1.32] and 3.55 m/s [2.92-4.31], respectively. These players executed an average of 365.9 [317.2-422.1] strokes per match, 200.6 [134.7-299.0] per set, 25.4 [16.7-38.7] per game, and 3.4 [2.6-4.6] per rally. Insufficient data were available for a meta-analysis of female players\' on-court movement and stroke performance. The average and peak heart rates of international male players on hard court were 134.3 [124.2-145.1] and 166.0 [132.7-207.6] beats per minute, and the average match heart rate expressed as a percentage of peak heart rate was 74.7% [46.4-100]. We found no studies concerning regional players or juniors, and only one study on doubles match play.
CONCLUSIONS: While we present a comprehensive overview of the physical demands of wheelchair tennis, our understanding predominantly centres around international male players competing on hard courts in the open division. To attain a more comprehensive insight into the sport\'s physical requirements, future research should prioritise the inclusion of data on female and quad players, juniors, doubles, and matches played on clay and grass court surfaces. Such endeavours will facilitate the development of more tailored and effective training programmes for wheelchair tennis players and coaches. The protocol for this systematic review was registered a priori at the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (Registration https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2023.3.0060 ).

UNASSIGNED: To compare shoulder range of motion (ROM) in dominant vs. nondominant shoulder of competitive tennis players, and to determine whether shoulder ROM is different between younger and older players, or males and females.
UNASSIGNED: A search was performed on PubMed, Embase, and Epistemonikos on December 18, 2023. This study conforms to the principles of the Cochrane Collaboration and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. Clinical studies or case reports on shoulder ROM including external rotation (ER; shoulder at 90° of abduction) and internal rotation (IR) in competitive, elite, or professional tennis players.
UNASSIGNED: We found 25 eligible studies that reported on a total of 18,534 tennis players, of which 20 studies reported the ROM for the dominant and nondominant side. Comparing dominant vs. nondominant shoulders revealed that dominant shoulders had significantly smaller IR (53.0° vs. 62.6°; P < .001). Comparing adults vs. children revealed that adults have significantly smaller IR (44.5° vs. 57.1°; P < .001) and ER (95.3° vs. 110.3°; P < .001). Comparing females vs. males revealed no significant differences in ER (113.4° vs. 104.9°; P = .360) or IR (54.3° vs. 56.4°; P = .710).
UNASSIGNED: IR in shoulders of tennis players is significantly smaller in dominant vs. nondominant sides (53.0° vs. 62.6°, P < .001), and significantly smaller in adults vs. children (44.5° vs. 57.1°, P < .001). These findings could be relevant in the context of physical preparation and training of tennis players, to monitor evolution of IR as a result of their sport and/or as they transition from childhood to adulthood.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aims to identify the primary racket and arm-mounted technologies based on inertial measurement units that enable the quantification of hitting load in racket sports.
METHODS: A comprehensive search of several databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore) and Google search engines was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) extension for scoping reviews guidelines. Included records primarily focused on monitoring hitting load in racket sports using commercialized racket or arm-mounted inertial sensors through noncompetitive and competitive racket-sports players.
RESULTS: A total of 484 records were identified, and 19 finally met the inclusion criteria. The largest number of systems found were compatible with tennis (n = 11), followed by badminton (n = 4), table tennis (n = 2), padel (n = 1), and squash (n = 1). Four sensor locations were identified: grip-attached (n = 8), grip-embedded (n = 6), wrist (n = 3), and dampener sensors (n = 2). Among the tennis sensors, only 4 out of the 11 (36.4%) demonstrated excellent reliability (>.85) in monitoring the number of shots hit either during analytic drills or during simulated matches. None of the other racket-sports sensors have undergone successful, reliable validation for hitting-volume quantification.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite recent advancements in this field, the quantification of hitting volume in racket sports remains a challenge, with only a limited number of tennis devices demonstrating reliable results. Thus, further progress in technology and research is essential to develop comprehensive solutions that adequately address these specific requirements.

The body of evidence has shown that the external focus of attention (EF) rather than the internal focus of attention (IF) enhances motor skill learning and performance. Within racket sports which require a high level of motor control, anticipation skills, and mental preparedness, effectively directing attention is essential to elicit improvements in athletic performance. The present review aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence concerning the effects of attentional focus instructions on motor learning and performance in racket sports. We systematically reviewed the literature according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The study was registered with the Open Science Framework (osf.io/m4zat). Four electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus) were searched for original research publications. Inclusion criteria were: peer-reviewed journals; healthy and free from injury participants; attentional focus literature specific to the external or internal focus; attentional focus related to motor learning or motor performance; studies included at least one comparator (e.g., different attentional focus group, or control groups with neutral or no specific instruction); publications in which task(s) or skill(s) related to one of the racket sports (tennis, table tennis, badminton, squash, or padel). The initial search yielded 2005 studies. Finally, 9 studies were included in the quantitative analysis. Overall, the results indicated that EF benefits the learning and performance of racket sport skills, compared to IF and over control conditions. The findings suggest that coaches and practitioners should consider the adoption of EF to optimize racket skills performance, particularly in novice or low-skilled athletes.

This study aims to present a critical review of the existing literature on the effects of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on strength, speed, and endurance performance among racket sports athletes. This study conducted a systematic literature review by PRISMA guidelines. Various well-known academic and scientific databases were used for research collection, including PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Out of 27 relevant studies, 10 were selected for inclusion in this systematic review, all meeting the required inclusion criteria. The quality of each study was assessed using the PEDro scale, with scores ranging from 3 to 5 for the selected studies. HIIT was found to improve racket players\' VO2 max (maximum oxygen uptake), running and repetitive sprint performance, jumping performance, and hitting speed during play. Current findings indicate that HIIT can significantly benefit athletic performance. Long-term HIIT allows athletes to enhance their power while improving crucial variables related to both aerobic and anaerobic endurance. This anaerobic endurance and explosive power type is particularly vital for racket sports players. For example, athletes in table tennis and badminton must exert maximum effort during high-intensity middle and back-court play. Racket athletes also need to maintain a stable state while preserving ball speed and positioning, and must quickly recover to prepare for the next rally. This training mechanism can assist athletes in honing their skills and achieving more efficient hitting quality. Therefore, this paper recommends that racket sports athletes incorporate HIIT into their regular training routines. The suggested frequency is three times per week, with each training session lasting 30-40 minutes, and a total duration of six to eight weeks. Trial registration. Systematic Review Registration: [https://inplasy.com/], identififier[INPLASY20230080].

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the available evidence on the biophysics of the tennis serve, mapping the populations, interventions, contexts and other relevant information to highlight what is already known and to identify gaps in the literature.
METHODS: Systematic scoping review with evidence gap map.
METHODS: The protocol was designed according to PRISMA 2020, Prisma-ScR guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook. The searches were conducted on July 20, 2022 and updated on April 1, 2023, in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (core collection). The risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochranes method for nonrandomized studies (RoBANS) and a narrative synthesis of the main findings was performed and supplemented with an evidence gap map.
RESULTS: Most trials were found on serve kinematics and kinetics (95 %), analyzing only flat serves (84 and 72 %, respectively). Few trials focused on physiology (20 %; e.g. biomarkers), under-19, left or both-handed, female and intermediate beginner or starter players (29, 17, 8 and 7 %, respectively). We found a preponderance of low and unclear risk of bias (63 and 31 %, respectively) and only 7 % high, particularly, on the assessment of confounding variables.
CONCLUSIONS: The current scoping review reveals a few trials on physiological rather than biomechanical variables, as well as the absence of the kick and slice serve, foot-back and foot-up serve, and left-handed, female, and young player analyses. We did not find systematic mistakes or limitations in the design, conduct, or analysis that would distort the results, since only 7 % presented a high risk of bias.

A nationally ranked Division One female collegiate tennis player presented with pain in the chest and right posterior rib region after feeling a popping sensation during a routine overhead movement. The patient was eventually diagnosed with 2 lower rib stress fractures. After unsuccessful conservative management, the player underwent an open reduction and internal fixation and autologous bone grafting of the sixth and seventh ribs with a muscle-sparing approach and was able to return to full competition. We present this case along with a systematic review of the literature regarding rib stress fractures, which included 6 separate online data sources (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, SportDiscus, and Medline). The successful surgical intervention demonstrates a significant option for elite athletes who wish to return to competition but have been unable to with standard of care conservative management of rib stress fractures.

UNASSIGNED: Schneider, C, Rothschild, J, and Uthoff, A. Change-of-direction speed assessments and testing procedures in tennis: a systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 37(9): 1888-1895, 2023-Change-of-direction speed (CODS) plays an essential role in tennis match play, and CODS performance is, therefore, commonly assessed and monitored in tennis players. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to describe test characteristics, performance metrics, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and test outcomes of tests that are used to assess CODS in tennis players. A literature search conducted on PubMed and SPORTDiscus yielded 563 results. After applying the eligibility criteria, a total of 27 studies were included in the present review. Ten unique CODS tests were identified. 505 test variations were most frequently used across all studies, and total time required to complete the test was the predominant performance metric investigated. Intrasession test-retest reliability ranged from \"moderate\" to \"excellent.\" Intersession test-retest reliability as well as the effects of tennis performance, sex, and age on CODS performance were unclear given the subject demographics and the limited number of studies that investigated these aspects. In conclusion, most studies included CODS tests that exhibit longer COD entry and total distances but similar COD angles to those seen during tennis match play. All CODS tests have at least \"moderate\" intrasession test-retest reliability. However, to improve CODS assessment methods and to increase our current understanding of CODS performance in tennis players, there is a need to conduct more research on the intersession test-retest reliability, construct validity, and the effects of sex, age, and tennis performance and to investigate other performance metrics that might provide additional insights into CODS (e.g., phase-specific performance variables).