Sex differences in the temporal dynamics of professional Beach Tennis matches

Abstract

Problem Statement: Beach Tennis (BT) has experienced rapid international growth in recent years, increasing the need for scientific evidence to support training and performance optimization. However, knowledge regarding the temporal characteristics of professional BT matches remains limited. Although recent research has begun to characterize the temporal demands of professional women's Beach Tennis, comparative evidence involving men's and women's competitions remains limited. Approach: Thirty-two professional matches (16 men's and 16 women's) from eight ITF Beach Tennis World Tour Sand Series tournaments were analyzed, comprising 3,453 points (1,724 men's and 1,729 women's). Temporal variables included total match time (TMT), actual match time (AMT), rally duration (Rally), interval between points (Interval), rally duration distribution, and work-to-rest ratio. Differences between sexes were analyzed using independent-samples t tests, with Cohen's d used to estimate effect size. Purpose: To compare the temporal structure of professional men's and women's Beach Tennis matches and provide updated evidence on the temporal demands of elite competition. Results: Women's matches presented significantly longer rallies than men's matches (5.26 ± 0.64 vs. 4.25 ± 0.69 s; p < 0.001; d = 1.52). No significant sex differences were observed for TMT (76.4 ± 19.0 vs. 74.1 ± 17.9 min), AMT (7.95 ± 2.31 vs. 9.24 ± 1.69 min), or interval duration (29.7 ± 5.26 vs. 26.7 ± 4.38 s). Short- and mediumduration rallies predominated in both categories, with 77.5% of men's rallies and 68.3% of women's rallies lasting ≤6 s. The overall work-to-rest ratio was approximately 1:6, supporting the intermittent nature of elite BT competition. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive comparison of the temporal structure of professional men's and women's Beach Tennis matches under the current ITF rules. Although the overall temporal profile was similar between sexes, women's matches were characterized by significantly longer rallies. These findings improve understanding of the temporal demands of elite BT and provide evidence to support sport-specific, evidence-based training strategies for coaches and practitioners.