Federer Makes it Look Easy

So you think you want to be a competitive elite tennis player? How hard can it be? Federer makes it look easy. Nadal looks like he’s working a little harder and frequently beats Federer. Work harder than Nadal? Good luck with that. Tennis is a lot of work, if you don’t want to work that hard take up fishing. In 2009 ESPN and a panel of “experts”, (sports scientists, academics, ex-star athletes etc…) rated 60 sports to determine which is the “toughest”. Ten skill categories were identified, they are:

1. Endurance (cardio/muscle endurance)
2. Strength (force production)
3. Power (strength x speed)
4. Speed (quickness and velocity)
5. Agility (quick change of direction)
6. Flexibility (full range of motion)
7. Nerve (overcoming fear)
8. Durability (resistance to injury)
9. Eye/hand skills (coordinated quick eyes and hands)
10. Analytic aptitude (mental reaction evaluation)

These categories were ranked 1-10 (with 10 being the highest score) for each sport. Then, higher math was used to rank each sport on a scale of 1-100. A copy of the ranking is included.(1)

The toughest sport was boxing, a great choice if you take the time to look at the skills and physical conditioning needed to be an elite boxer. (Fishing was #60). Boxing requires high levels of endurance, strength, power, durability and eye hand skills. Boxing does not require a ton of flexibility or analytical aptitude; after all how smart can they be to get in the ring in the first place. ESPN’s rankings stirred the emotional pot of coaches, athletes and sports fans everywhere. I think we can all agree that the top 25 toughest sports require a plethora of skills to be competitive at the elite level.

ESPN’s expert ranked tennis #7 on the list. Very respectable, but I think tennis is underrated. First, lets throw out the team sports. Comparing team sports with individual sports is like comparing apples to oranges. That leaves wrestling and martial arts competing with tennis for the next 3 spots in individual sports. Here’s why I think tennis should be #2 on the toughest sports list, behind boxing. Let’s look at each category.

1. Endurance. The average match lasts 1.5 hours and often goes longer. The 2009 Australian Open lasted 4hrs and 23minutes.(2)

2. Strength. Tennis is not high in the list of strength sports like boxing and football, however strong legs and core muscles are a must to repeatedly burst for a ball, hit with pace, recover and do it again and again…injury free.

3. Power. Rate of force production on a serve can reach 2500 ft/second at the shoulder. That’s power!! (5)

4. Speed. First step speed and racquet head speed is crucial for elite players.

5. Agility. The ability to change directions quickly and precisely while maintaining balance and body control. The average tennis point has 4 direction changes.

6. Flexibility. Remember that shot of Kim Clisters in Sports Illustrated doing the splits?

7. Nerve. Standing in on a 140 mph Andy Roddick serve has to take a lot nerve. Other than that I got nothing!

8. Durability. Many elite players trying to crack the top 100 play 50 weeks a year.

9. Eye/Hand Skills. The game speaks for himself.

10. Analytic Aptitude. The elite know how to strategically set up their opponent with shot selection and movement of the ball.

A point of consideration, tennis is a year round sport. When long breaks between major tournaments allow, players will train for 1-3 hours twice per day and usually have 1-2 off-court training sessions as well.(4) Tennis is often played in the heat where the sun can heat the air at court level to 150 deg. F. This kind of heat places heavy metabolic stress on the player increasing the risk of dehydration and other heat related illness. The average heart rate for men in the 20-30 age group is 140-170bpm.(3) Players run an average of 3 meters per shot, 6-15 meters per point, completing 1300-3600 meters/hour. (2) There are more stats, but I think you get the idea.

No other individual sport places so many demands on the major athletic skills (except for boxing). Tennis is a tough sport, even though Federer makes it look easy.

Sources:
1. ESPN-SPORTS Skills difficulty ranking
2. Strength and Conditioning Journal
Vol.31 #4 Physical and Physiological Demands of Tennis
3. Strength and Conditioning Journal
Vol 31 #4 Heat and Hydration Considerations for Junior and Collegiate Tennis Players
4. USTA Player Development Elite Tennis Player Training
Mark Kovacs PHD
5. Strength and Conditioning Journal
Vol.31 #4 Biomechanics of the Tennis Serve: Implications for Strength Training