Impacto de uma partida de tênis sobre o desempenho neuromuscular de atletas juvenis de elite: um estudo exploratório

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a tennis match on neuromuscular performance. The sample consisted of nine elite junior tennis players (15±1.15 years, 65.8±7.94 kg, and 172±7.53 cm), all ranked by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Each participant played a simulated tennis match with a randomized game system on a hard-court surface. Neuromuscular assessments were conducted before and 30 minutes after the match, including the Squat Jump (SJ), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), 5-0-5 agility test (AG), maximum sprint velocity over 5 m, 10 m, and 15 m (V), and handgrip strength of the dominant limb (DHS). Paired comparisons were performed using the Student’s t-test (p ≤ 0.05), followed by effect size (ES) analysis using Cohen’s d. Results indicated reductions in CMJ [−3.3%, ES = 0.298 (small)], V5m [−4.5%, ES = 0.478 (small)], V10m [−4.1%, ES = 0.693 (moderate)], V15m [−2.6%, ES = 0.810 (large)], SJ [−2.1%, ES = 0.434 (small)], and AG [−0.7%, ES = 0.143 (trivial)]. An increase was observed in DHS [+6.1%, ES = 0.552 (moderate)]. The observed negative changes occurred in variables with greater impact on match performance. Conversely, grip strength, a key component of racket handling, was not negatively affected by a single match in elite junior players.