Comparison of match-play characteristics of junior and professional tennis players

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to compare the match-play characteristics of junior and professional tennis players on clay, grass, and hard courts. The match-play characteristics of players who competed and won the matches in the first-round singles main draws of the 2022 French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open Tournaments were obtained from the official web pages. A total of 576 matches (junior = 192, professional = 384) consisting of 288 males and 288 females were analysed. The results of the study indicated that professional players demonstrated significantly higher average set duration and ace per set than juniors on each of the court surfaces. Junior boys had significantly higher return points won on grass and hard courts than professionals. Professional female players performed significantly higher first serve points won and total points won on grass court than junior girls. It was observed that in professional males the variables of first serve points won, ace per set, and double faults per set were significantly higher on grass and hard courts, compared to clay court. Moreover, females performed significantly higher unforced errors per set than males on each of the courts.