Alia Khizer

Assignment 2
Writing 1104
26 March 2016
Introduction
I chose tennis because I've been playing since I was in eighth grade and it is a big passion
of mine. Tennis is not only a physical sport, but a mind game as well. It challenges your body
and mind at the same time so I've always found it to be quite interesting.
How tennis originated isnt entirely clear, however most historians believe it originated in
Northern France in the 12th century. The game was not originally used with rackets but began as
a hand ball game called jeu de paume which translates to game of the palm. Rackets were
later introduced in the 16th century when the game began to be referred to as tennis where it
became more popular throughout England and France.
Competitive tennis is split into four main tournaments throughout the year. They are held
in Wimbledon, the United States, Australia and France. The way tennis works is that in order to
win, the player must win the best of 3 sets or the best of 5 sets. Within those sets the player must
win by 2 games within one set. There are usually 6 games in a set however it can go up to more
games if it gets to that point throughout the match. For example the score can be 6-4 or 7-5 or
even 10-8, however sometimes there are tie breaks depending on the timing of the matches and
what the referees decide. Within the games the score is broken down by love, 15, 30, and 40.
Love means zero and if both players have 40 then the score would be deuce and then one of the
players would have to win by two points to win the game. For singles, there are single alleys on
courts that distinguish what is out and in and the players call the shots so it is self refereeing.
However for big tournaments there are line judges who can overrule a call if the opposing player
or team challenges it. A game is started at love all (0-0), and each player has two chances to get
their serve in within the service boxes. They start on the deuce side of the court which is the right
side and switch for every point. At the beginning of each match, the players spin one racket to
decide which side of the court the players start on and who will serve first.
Considering I am a tennis player myself and a womens singles player, there is the
potential bias of how I perceive and research tennis as opposed to if I were a different type of
player. Tennis is also my favorite sport and I am passionate about it so that can play a role

regarding whether or not my paper is swaying the sport to seem a certain way as opposed to if I
had no opinion on the sport. Not every aspect of every sport can be objective based on the person
researching it, it will most likely differ from person to person. As you read through my paper,
keep in mind the biases that may come along with my opinion on tennis and how I perceive it as
a sport.
The reason for researching this topic and developing a study testing different types of
player is to find ways to help players cope with their mental anxieties before, after and during a
competitive match. The study Ive conducted is based on a study that was already done titled
Measures Of Anxiety Among Tennis Players In Singles And Doubles Matches (Terry 1996).
In my case however, my study focuses on the differences in anxiety levels between mens singles
and doubles players and womens singles and doubles players.
When thinking of the sport of tennis, there are many differences and similarities between
different aspects of the game. Differences between players, the mens and womens game, and
the singles and doubles game. However the mental and physical goals of tennis remain the same
regardless of how they are met. When analyzing different aspects, we learn more about the
mental and physical game through these comparisons. Differences occur in the anxiety levels of
singles and doubles players, as well as their match play. Differences between men and women
occur in their service game and the length of matches and points, resulting in differences in their
mental states as well. Similarities between all these types of players occur mentally and
physically and how both coincide with one another. There are also solutions brought up by
studies conducted to help cope with the mental disadvantages of tennis, regardless of what player
category one falls under. This paper explores these differences and similarities in depth, and how
they ultimately reach the goals of winning the physical and mental game of tennis.
Literature Review
Tennis is both a mental and physical game in regards to how one plays and succeeds in
the sport. Since these both variables come into play in the game of tennis, different players take
different approaches and it is interesting to see how they compare. Men and women players are
distinctly different in how they approach the game as well as singles and doubles players. The
gender of a player has a significant impact on the way they play and approach the game. For
example women play longer rallies and have a lower shot rate (number of shots per time unit)

Commented [1]: Alia, your introduction is well thought

of and cohesive. I am glad that you made a brief history
of tennis in your introduction so that others may know
immediately your topic. Overall, I think that you did a
good job in Assignment Two. You made it clear what
you wanted to study and it just needs a little tweaking
here and there.
Commented [2]: Your Lit. Review is very elaborate.
However, maybe you can lessen it a bit and
concentrate instead on the main ideas of your paper
which is about the anxieties of players during the
match. I got a little bit confused as I read through it
since there were a lot of information. Maybe just
concentrate on the important ones.
Commented [3]: There are some terms in tennis that
I'm not familiar with and it kinda of confuses me. I think
it will be better if you put an explanation for the terms
you are using. Even with the simple terms like serve, I
think you should consider putting some explanation to
be safe and clear.

than men (ODonoghue & Ingram, 2001; Morante & Brotherhood, 2005) and men have a better
chance of winning points on their service (ODonoghue, 2001) (Bois, Heyndels 2007). It makes
sense that women have longer rallies than men because men tend to want to finish the point as
quick as possible making the mens game more efficient (Khizer, Molina 2016).
The most obvious differences between the men and womens game is the psychological
aspect. Male players have more power and a more explosive style leading to a much faster game
which is evident through the service game. The men's game has bigger serving going on while
the women's lacks great serving. The women can break each other's serves 4 or more times in
one match while the men will only have 2 or 3 and sometimes none if they go to tiebreaks to
decide who wins the match because it's tough to break serve in the men's game (Khizer, Molina
2016). Men tend to have more aces during matches than women and the different styles of
serving varies more as opposed to women. They have more variety when it comes to the
different spins one can have for their serves. The world record of fastest service speed for male
players is in name of Andy Roddick with 153 mph, while Venus Williams holds the record for
female players with 127.4 mph (Guinness World Records, 2006) (Bois, Heyndels 2007). Since
the sport originated, men have taken a more efficient approach to every aspect of the game, most
significantly regarding the serve. Men players focus more on the speed of the ball that can
outplay their opponent while women players havent caught up yet. As well as the speed of their
serves, the average timing of matches is quicker in mens tennis than in womens. The average
point played in a match during the Australian Open lasted 6.4 minutes for the men (7 minutes for
the women) while the average point duration at Wimbledon matches was only 5.2 minutes for
the men (5.6 for the women) (Bois, Heyndels 2007). These numbers make sense as previously
mentioned that women rally longer while men finish points quicker. Since the matches tend be
longer for women than men, men play to the best of five sets, while women play to the best of
three sets in grand-slam tournaments (Corral 2009). This is the only difference in matches
between men and womens tennis, the rest of the rules are the same for each. As well as these
advantages that men players have over women players, in a study that was conducted from The
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, it has been concluded that The advantage of lefthanded professional tennis players over their right-handed opponents is higher in males
compared to females (Breznik 2013). It seems as though in every aspect looked at, men tennis
players have an advantage over women.

Commented [4]: You stated on your first sentence that

it's about their psychological aspect but I think you
were not talking about it. I think it just confuses me
because it seems like you were talking more about the
physical one. I'm not a tennis player so maybe that's
why I'm confused if those are considered psychological
aspect or not.

As well as the differences in the physical game of tennis between different players, the
mental game of tennis differs as well. Anecdotal evidence suggests that tennis players view
doubles matches as less stressful than singles matches. It is possible that interaction with a
playing partner relieves tension, provides encouragement, and reduces feelings of isolation
during matches. The observed differences in anxiety responses between two situations within
one sport suggest that it is the emphasis upon the individual rather than the specific
characteristics of the sport which accounts for higher anxiety scores (Terry 1996). Since
doubles players have a partner to rely on to play half the game with them, their mental approach
to the game will differ from singles players. Singles players are completely on their own to play
the whole court while doubles players only have to keep up with half. Also having someone to
talk to and strategize with makes a difference as well, taking the pressure off a single player.
Increased self-confidence was facilitative of performance in both singles and doubles, and high
cognitive anxiety was debilitative of performance, especially in singles. Somatic Anxiety scores
did not differ significantly between winners and losers in either singles or doubles. This supports
the proposal that self-confidence and cognitive anxiety have greater influence on performance
because they are self-evaluative and only change when performance expectations change,
whereas somatic anxiety, believed to be largely reflexive, dissipates when performance begins
(Terry 1996). The anxiety levels and mental states of players can greatly affect their game,
especially for singles players. This is how the mental game of tennis comes into play. There is a
constant battle between what a player knows is the right strategy to win and going through with
that strategy based on how the player is feeling mentally. Anticipatory cues such as the
preliminary movements of an opponent's feet, trunk, shoulders, racquet displacement, and unique
mannerisms in a sport such as tennis can greatly assist in determining the direction, spin, and
velocity of the oncoming ball. This information can be instrumental in aiding a player in
anticipating the actions of an opponent, what she or he is going to do. Furthermore, such
information assists the players in making rapid and accurate decisions about what to do in
response. A performer who possesses outstanding anticipatory capabilities has a decisive
advantage in externally paced sport situations in which performers must make effective decisions
and actions in limited time constraints (Singer 1994). The mental game of tennis determines the
physical outcomes of how the players follow through with their techniques. These responses
have to more strategic and well thought out for a singles player rather than a doubles player. This

explains why the levels of anxiety are higher for singles players as opposed to doubles players.
In a study done, it was concluded that winning teams exchanged messages more frequently than
losing teams (Lausic 2013). Communication which is a mental aspect of tennis is a big part of
being successful in the game and following through with the physical aspect. Another study that
was conducted suggests that the physical aspect of the game in turn also helps the mental in that
training may lead to a better mental rehearsal of movements associated with the task
(Fourkas 2008). Essentially this study concluded that neuroimaging studies indicate that
physical practice with a specific motor task increases neural efficiency of motor areas involved
in the task, leading to higher and more focused functional activations during task execution
(Kelly and Garavan 2005) (Fourkas 2008). The mental game affects the physical game and vice
versa which is interesting considering how men, women, doubles and singles players differ.
There are mental, physical and strategic battles going on in every match. You're not only
playing against an opponent but you're also playing against your own faults and insecurities.
Once you can let go of your own faults and play with full intention, you can move on to the next
part of the game which is trying to find your opponent's weaknesses and being comfortable with
your own game to exploit them(Khizer, Molina 2016). Letting go of these faults is much easier
for a doubles player than singles because there isnt as much pressure. If one doubles player
messes up, it can be both players faults or one or the other, whereas when a singles player faults
it is completely on them.
The differences in the physical aspect of singles and doubles players is evident in how the
matches are set up for each. "Singles matches are much more physical than a doubles match.
Covering the full court compared to only half a court is a huge difference. Singles points can last
much longer than doubles points since in doubles most points are won at the net. Doubles
becomes more about using finesse and angles more than you would in singles. Doubles has an
advantage over singles in that you have a partner to help you figure out how to win. In singles,
it's all up to you to find the winning formula. Singles players have to be more fit to last in long
matches. Doubles players don't need to worry about getting into long matches since they have
shortened the length of doubles matches. Doubles players have to be very good at net play while
singles players don't need to be that good just good enough to finish off easy volleys (Khizer,
Molina 2016). These points support the differences in angst between singles and doubles players
as well. There is much more thought and strategy for a singles player to put in a match than for a

doubles team. This is why some people are better singles or doubles players because it depends
on the person. Novak Djokovic for example is perfect for singles because he can keep up with
both aspects of the game. Some players are also strictly one type of player versus the other.
Some singles players are only successful in singles matches and vice versa with doubles. There
are multiple aspects to consider when thinking of tennis and the best way to win. It differs

Commented [5]: I think you need more supporting

information about him. Who is Novak Djokovic? What
aspects are you actually pointing out that he's capable
of keeping up with?

between gender, the type of match play, and the mental and physical properties that come along
with each.
A study was done to find ways to help with the mental anxieties of tennis match play.
The study concluded that incorporating a Mental Tennis Program can help players in regulating
performance variables, such as anxiety and self-confidence. It seems that coaches and trainers
have good reasons to incorporate in their training sessions MTPs, targeting at eliminating

Commented [6]: What I can recommend is to define

the meaning mental anxieties in a medical aspect. This
can be helpful so that it can support the subject about
mental anxieties in tennis players. It provides just a
brief background about what anxiety it and how it is
manifested.

performance weaknesses. To this effect, coaches should teach athletes techniques to regulate
their anxiety and work by adopting a season-long goal setting process. In addition, they should
try to help their athletes believe in their abilities by emphasizing their strengths, before a match,
as these self-efficacy beliefs will have a positive impact on during-match self-confidence and
performance. Results also stress the importance of eliminating a number of possible factors that
may influence negatively a players self-confidence, regarding his upcoming match. These may
be comments, which refer to the players technical or tactical weaknesses, referrals to any bad
past performances, especially against the same opponent, too much emphasis on the opponent's
strengths or winning, and so on (Mamassis 2004). The results of this study can be helpful to
every type of player as well as their coaches. Another helpful study done on this same idea
concludes that the most important mental skills for junior tennis players to develop, coaches
indicated are enjoyment/fun, focus/concentration, self-confidence, emotional control, honesty
integrity, motivation/passion, practice intensity, and positive self-talk/thinking (Gould 1999).
The mental game of tennis is just as, if not more important than the physical aspect because it all
starts in the mind. Coaches are a key component when it comes to their players success, not
only physically but mentally as well.
Entering the Conversation
After going through the sources I found to develop my paper and support my topic on
tennis, I found that tennis is not a sport that affects every type of player the same way. Your

Commented [7]: I think that this section is really good.

I like that you sectioned the stuff that is in the study. It
is clearer for me as a reader. I would just give more
details like how many questions are you going to ask
etc. Other than that, I like how this study was
constructed. It would definitely benefit the participants
in the study.

gender and whether you are a singles or doubles player is a significant factor when considering
the physical and mental aspects of tennis. Regardless of what type of player you are however,
your anxiety levels as a tennis player and your mental state during the game inevitably affects
your physical game as well. Why does the type of player you are differentially affect your mental
tennis game? What are the differences in anxiety levels amongst varying players and how does
this alter the game for each player? To answer these questions and find ways to help cope with
the anxiety levels and mental mindset during a tennis match, a study should be conducted testing
and interviewing men and women singles and doubles players before, after and during a match.
Method
Participants
Participants would be 100 volunteer competitive tennis players all around the age of 20 including
25 women's singles players, 25 men's singles players, 25 womens doubles players and 25 mens
doubles players. All participants would have played representative tennis at least to county
standard and are therefore judged to be relatively homogeneous in playing ability.
Measurement of State Anxiety
State anxiety would be measured in Cognitive Anxiety, Somatic Anxiety, and Self-confidence.
There would be interview like questions for each player before, during and after their matches.

Commented [8]: I think you should also emphasize

that they'll differ with each other. Some might be taller
than the other, leaner, muscular, etc. I think it would
sound more interesting since you're going to conduct
this with different types of players. Just give light that
you'll consider them to be as unique as possible with
each other.

Examples of Cognitive Anxiety items would include "I am concerned about this match" and "I
am concerned about not reaching my goal," while Somatic Anxiety items would include "My
body feels tight" and "I feel jittery." Self-confidence would items include "I feel at ease" and
"I'm confident I can meet the challenge of this match." All items would be rated on a 4-point
scale anchored by 1 ="not at all" to 4 ="very much so." Questions would include these three
different forms of anxiety and would be asked throughout the matches and compared between
different types of players.
Procedure
Interview like questions would be asked and answered twice by each participant approximately
15 minutes prior to one singles and one doubles competition for both men and women, once in
between 2 sets (before a tie break as well if each side wins one set) and right after the match is
over.

Commented [9]: I appreciate that you put examples

about Cognitive, Somatic and Self-confidence for the
measurements. But maybe you can put a definition of
what Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety is and also SelfConfidence. It can possibly give light to what those
mean.

The anxiety based questions would all be the same for each type of player. These questions are to
have an understanding of how players are feeling before, during and after their competitive
matches and how this affects their game. The results of anxiety levels from these matches can
help on learning how to prevent certain anxieties from arising and working on the personal
anxieties of each player individually. The scores and abilities of each player/team would be
considered as well to calculate the results more effectively.
Cognitive Anxiety Evaluation:
On a scale of 1 to 4, anchored by 1 ="not at all" to 4 ="very much so, how would you say you
are feeling regarding the statements "I am concerned about this match" and "I am concerned
about not reaching my goal?
Somatic Anxiety Evaluation:
On a scale of 1 to 4, anchored by 1 ="not at all" to 4 ="very much so, how would you say you
are feeling regarding the statements "My body feels tight" and "I feel jittery?
Self-Confidence Evaluation:
On a scale of 1 to 4, anchored by 1 ="not at all" to 4 ="very much so, how would you say you
are feeling regarding the statements "I feel at ease" and "I'm confident I can meet the challenge
of this match?
Since the same questions would be asked to each type of player, it would be easier to find the
similarities and differences between each and if there are correlations between the same types of
players and their answers. It would be interesting if for example women players tend to be more
anxious than men players or vice versa. The same concept would be interesting differing in
singles and doubles players.
Results
Since I am not actually conducting this study, the results are what I would hope to see happen if I
were to actually conduct the study.
I would hope to see results that would illustrate the differences in the anxiety levels between men
singles and doubles players and women singles and doubles players. I would hope that the
anxiety levels would correlate with how each player plays on the court. These results would then
in turn help evaluate how to help each type of player cope with their anxiety and learn to play
with the best mental mindset.
This study is based off of a study done titled Measures Of Anxiety Among Tennis Players

Commented [10]: Your questions are great regarding

Cognitive, Somatic and self-confidence. Although,
maybe you still possibly improve on the number of
questions that you can construct about these groups to
be measured? Maybe this can somehow provide more
information about they're anxieties and confidence.

In Singles And Doubles Matches (Terry 1996).

Conclusion
This paper focuses on the differences and similarities regarding different aspects of the
sport of tennis. The main components Ive focused on are the difference and similarities between

Commented [11]: I read earlier that you based this to

another study but you never explained why you
decided to base it to that study. Do you find that study
quite broad? Do you want it to be more specific and
better? I think you should consider that so that readers
won't feel your study is a rip-off or something.

men players, women players, singles players and doubles players. The sources I used highlight
several ways in which these types of players differ. One of the most interesting sources I found is
a study titled Measures Of Anxiety Among Tennis Players In Singles And Doubles Matches
(Terry 1996) in which it compares the anxiety levels of singles and doubles players. The study
conducted also tries to find ways to help cope with the anxieties tennis players feel when on the
court, evidently enforcing the idea that the mental game is just as important and significant in
regards to the physical game. The study also helped me design my own study for this paper as
well, however the study I designed focuses more on the anxiety levels of men's singles and
doubles players and womens singles and doubles players and how they compare. The purpose of
the study was to evaluate the different anxieties players feel before, after and during a
competitive tennis match and how different types of players should cope with these anxieties.
The different forms of anxiety that would have been measured in the study include Cognitive
Anxiety, Somatic Anxiety, and Self-confidence. The players would have been asked questions
on these forms and their answers would have hopefully created correlations between the same
types of players in hopes of finding solutions for them.
Further research that this study is not able to find solutions to may be the differences in
anxiety levels for different age groups. Solutions may be different for younger or older players,
or players that have been playing for different periods of time. Since my study focuses on the
comparisons of different types of players, it lacks the consideration of varying age groups and
experience. This further research would be helpful in helping a wider selection of tennis players
rather than just competitive players who are in their prime.
There is also more potential research that can be done in regards to the physical aspects
of the sport. Further research can be done on specific physical practices players can perform to
reduce anxiety before competitive matches. Considering the different types of players, age
groups and experience as well.
Works Cited

Commented [12]: Your further research suggestion is

great. But perhaps you can also suggest a further
research about the anxieties as well of players who had
more experience compared to those that have a lesser
experience. I was just thinking that maybe, the length
of the experience in the sport can have an effect on
their anxiety level.

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Terry, P. C., Cox, J. A., Lane, A. M., & Karageorghis, C. I. (1996). Measures Of Anxiety
Among Tennis Players In Singles And Doubles Matches. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 83(2),
595-603. Retrieved March 13, 2016, from
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