Condition
Tennis Performance
Tennis is an intermittent sport that blends power, agility, endurance, and focus, with matches lasting anywhere from one to five-plus hours. Among supplements, the evidence is strongest for caffeine, electrolytes, and whey protein, which are linked to alertness and endurance, hydration in long or hot matches, and muscle recovery. Creatine has moderate evidence, while citrulline has very limited research, with one small study of 21 people finding no clear difference in anaerobic capacity.
- Supplements studied
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 1
- Trials
- 3
- People studied
- 66
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Capacity No effect | NoneNo effect | 21 people | ||||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 3 studies | 21 people | |||
Studies that measured power output
| ||||||
| Strength | Improves (the measure goes up) | 21 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neuromuscular Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 2 studies | 9 people | |||
Studies that measured neuromuscular function | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprint Performance Metrics | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 36 people | |||
Studies that measured sprint performance metrics | ||||||
Key findings
- Anaerobic Capacity
The Tennis Performance Enhancement protocol
2 primary supplements · 3 supporting supplements
- Caffeine3–6 mg/kg body weight 30–60 minutes before play
- Creatine Monohydrate3–5 g daily
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Studies cited
6 studies from PubMed
- Sodium bicarbonate supplementation prevents skilled tennis performance decline after a simulated match
- Sodium bicarbonate ingestion and boxing performance
- The effects of creatine supplementation on selected factors of tennis specific training
- Acute citrulline-malate supplementation is ineffective during aerobic cycling and subsequent anaerobic performance in recreationally active males
- Acute citrulline-malate supplementation improves maximal strength and anaerobic power in female, masters athletes tennis players
- Acute Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on High-Intensity Strength and Power Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis