Optimizing Tennis Performance : A Narrative Review and Strength & Conditioning Needs Analysis

Harshvardhan Patil
Independent Researcher, Thane, Maharashtra, India.
Email: patilharshvardhan004@gmail.com

Tennis is a multifaceted sport characterized by intermittent high-intensity efforts, complex movement patterns, and significant physical demands that require a comprehensive understanding of the athlete’s needs. To optimize performance and minimize injury risk, it is essential for support staff—including strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, and sports scientists—to base training strategies on a clear analysis of the sport’s unique physiological and biomechanical requirements. This article provides a detailed need analysis of tennis athletes, emphasizing the physical attributes and movement demands critical to success. Through a narrative review of current literature, this paper synthesizes evidence on the physiological, biomechanical, and injury-related aspects of tennis, offering an integrative perspective on how strength and conditioning programs can be effectively designed and implemented. This review examines energy systems, movement, injury risks, and recovery to inform tailored training interventions for tennis. Ultimately, this article serves as a guide for support personnel seeking to develop scientifically grounded, individualized, and periodized strength and conditioning protocols that address the comprehensive needs of tennis athletes across different levels of play. Keywords: Tennis, Need Analysis, Strength & Conditioning, Athletic Performance.

Cite the article: Patil, H. (2025). Optimizing tennis performance: A narrative review and strength & conditioning needs analysis. International Journal of Law, Education, Social and Sports Studies, 12(2), 38–43. https://doi.org/10.33329/ijless.12.2.38