Comparison of laboratory and "on-court" endurance testing in tennis

Treadmill testing (TT) commonly used in endurance testing is often not spor t-specific. Therefore a field test (FT) for tennis players was developed. T he purpose was 1)to compare metabolic and cardiorespiratory response betwee n TT and FT and 2) to assess tennis stroke ratings during FT: In both tests ventilatory variables ((V)over dot O-2 V-E, VT, B-f, V-E x (V)over dot O-2 (-1)), heart rate (HR), and lactate (LA) were measured. For both tests an " individual anaerobic threshold" (IAT) was calculated. The comparison of TT and FT yielded significant differences in cardiorespiratory and metabolic r esponse. LA and V,were significantly higher in TT compared to FT at (V)over dot O-2, of 35, 40, and 45 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1). There were statistical d ifferences between IAT resulting from both tests (TT vs. TT): HR (165 +/- 1 6, 775 +/- 11, p < 0.001), (V) over dot , O-2 (44.4 +/- 4.3, 47.8 +/- 4.8, p < 0.05), LA (3.1 +/- 0.5, 2.5 +/- 0.4, p < 0.001), V-E (97.0 +/- 15.6, 89 .1 +/- 14.9, p < 0.05), VT (2.66 +/- 0.34, 2.34 +/- 0.47, p < 0.05), V-E\(V )over dot O-2 (27.9 +/- 3.9, 23.9 +/- 2.9, p < 0.01). High correlation was found between stroke ratings and the national ranking of the players. We co ncluded that 1) metabolic, ventilatory, and cardiorespiratory demands of TT vs. FT were (semi)sport-specific and significantly different and 2) that t he stroke rating in our study was a good predictor for tournament performan ce (r = 0.94). This type of stroke rating can be implemented in a FT.