Serve efficiency development indicates an extended women’s tennis world class cohort: Analysing 14 years of Ladies Wimbledon Championships – implications for coaching

Abstract

Purpose. How crucial is good serving to succeed in modern days women’s world class tennis? The study aimed to systematically analyse serve efficiency and serving behaviour in elite women’s tennis over 14 years to identify possible training patterns. Methods. Analyses included historical data on all matches at the Ladies Wimbledon Championships of 2002–2015 (matches: n = 1771; service games: n = 37,717; serves: n = 248,135). The study focused on 2 main comparisons, serve efficiency development in 2002–2015 and possible differences within the women’s tennis world class, between the 1 (matches: n = 1562; service games: n = 33,150; serves: n = 218,028) and 2 tournament week results (matches: n = 209; service games: n = 4567; serves: n = 30,107). Results. An increase over time was observed for the percentages of service games won (p < 0.001), 1 service points won (p < 0.05), and aces served (p < 0.01), whereas double faults served (p < 0.05) and serve and volley points played (p < 0.001) decreased significantly. Direct comparisons of the 1 and 2 tournament week results favour players competing in the 2 tournament week, showing significant advantages in the percentages of service games won (p < 0.01), 1 service points won (p < 0.05), and aces served (p < 0.001). Conclusions. An increased serve efficiency over time was observed, particularly for 1 tournament week results, indicating a more extended women’s world class cohort. However, direct comparisons favour players competing in the 2 tournament week.