Additional information
Tennis
Prepare your body
The purpose of injury prevention training is to develop basic skills to improve coordination, strength and mobility as well as optimising individualised technique. The exercises focus on stabilising the shoulders and back, as well as strengthening the groin and thigh so they can tolerate the load of the sport.
BEST WITHOUT INJURIES
Training regularly is essential for improving and enjoying your sport over time. When you're injured, it prevents you from consistent training. Did you know that a previous injury increases the risk of a new one? That's why injury prevention is crucial to help you enjoy and perform in your sport. This program is designed to help you stay injury-free, so you can keep progressing and enjoy your sport for many years to come.
THE YOUNG ATHLETE
For young athletes, adolescence is a time of many changes, both physically and mentally. It is during this period that we grow and develop, which is why it is important to be patient and understand that this phase is about building a solid foundation—not about being the best right now. Training habits that emphasize gradual progression, enjoyment, and versatility will lay the groundwork for a long, fun, and rewarding career in sports. By focusing on mastery and development, one can experience continuous progress and joy in sports in the future. You can read more about growth and maturation in young athletes under "Nice to Know" on the homepage.
IMPORTANCE OF WARMING UP
Many injuries are the result of not warming up properly. It is important to spend time warming up before any training session or match. This is just as important for the body as are mental preparations.
The following programs have been designed especially for tennis players, and the goal is to prepare the body for the load. Did you know that elite players run over a mile during the course of a match?
EQUAL RISK ON CLAY AND HARD COURTS
A study from the Netherlands with nearly 40.000 players aged 25-60 showed that the risk of injury is the same on hard courts as it is on clay courts.
Exercises
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Prone leg cross
2–3 x 6–8 repetitions
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Supine leg cross
2–3 x 6–8 repetitions
Play video
Kneeling lunge
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Jump with 90 degree turn
10 jumps in each direction
Play video
Triple extension
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Overhead shoulder strength
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Rotational strength
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Upper back mobility
3 x 10–15 repetitions
Play video
Sleepers stretch
3 x 30 seconds
Play video
Sidelying rotation
2–3 x 6–8 repetitions
Play video
Wrist flexion + extension
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Elbow pronation + supination
3 x 8-16 repetitions
Play video
Box jumps
3 x 30 seconds
Play video
Forward lunges with rotation
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Kneeling rotational throwing
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Triple extension
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Shoulder external rotation
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Y exercise
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Prone leg cross
2–3 x 6–8 repetitions
Play video
Supine leg cross
2–3 x 6–8 repetitions
Play video
Kneeling lunge
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Rotational strength
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Triple extension
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Kneeling rotational throwing
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Overhead shoulder strength
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Shoulder external rotation
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Play video
Sleepers stretch
3 x 30 seconds
Prone leg cross
2–3 x 6–8 repetitions
Purpose: To improve hip and back flexibility
Keep both shoulders firmly on the floor
Cross one knee towards the opposite hand
Progression: Perform with straight legs
Supine leg cross
2–3 x 6–8 repetitions
Purpose: To improve hip and back flexibility
Keep both shoulders firmly on the floor
Cross one knee towards the opposite hand
Progression: Perform with straight legs
Kneeling lunge
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To improve hip mobility
Place one foot forward, keeping the knee over the heel
Keep your back straight and push your hips forwards
Your hips should be in front of your belly button
Perform the same movement to the side and diagonally backwards, keeping your hips parallel
Jump with 90 degree turn
10 jumps in each direction
Purpose: To improve technique for jumping on and off rails
Jump onto a mat, turning 90 degrees in the air
Land softly with your knees over your toes
Land in the same spot every time
Include a ball to increase challenge
Triple extension
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To enhance strength in the abdomen and the back
Extend upper body
Throw the ball explosively overhead
Stabilise in final position with knee over toe alignment
Overhead shoulder strength
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To strengthen the shoulder and upper back
Stretch the elastic diagonally upwards using two straight arms
As you reach the top, rotate your trunk and pull your shoulder blade back
Return slowly using one arm only
Rotational strength
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To improve rotation strength
Stand with your feet shoulder–width apart
Keep your arms straight
Your partner resists while you rotate
Take turns with your partner to rotate
Upper back mobility
3 x 10–15 repetitions
Purpose: To enhance back mobility
Move upper body slowly backwards in hyper extension
Maintain full contact with lower back
Sleepers stretch
3 x 30 seconds
Purpose: To improve shoulder mobility
Sidelying position
Place shoulder in about 90 degrees
Press underarm downwards
Shoulder rotates inwards
Sidelying rotation
2–3 x 6–8 repetitions
Purpose: To improve spinal flexibility
Lie on your side with the top leg stabilising and both arms outstretched
Rotate spine then stretch out your shoulder then elbow
Keep your hips stable during the exercise
Wrist flexion + extension
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To strengthen forearm muscles
Flex and extend your wrist
Control up- and downwards movement
Elbow pronation + supination
3 x 8-16 repetitions
Purpose: Improve forearm strength
Hold elastic tight with the palms down
Slowly turn your palms upward, further tightening the elastic
Slowly turn your palms downward, further tightening the elastic
Box jumps
3 x 30 seconds
Purpose: To enhance explosivity in changes of direction
2–leg jumps in different directions
Soft landings with knee over toe
Try to time your landing on a pre–defined spot
Forward lunges with rotation
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To improve rotational flexibility and hip and knee control
Forward and backwards lunges
Rotate upper body with arms straight
Keep knee over toe
Kneeling rotational throwing
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To improve rotation strength
Kneel with extended hips and a straight back
Throw a weighted ball explosively by rotating your trunk
Triple extension
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To enhance strength in the abdomen and the back
Extend upper body
Throw the ball explosively overhead
Stabilise in final position with knee over toe alignment
Shoulder external rotation
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To strengthen the shoulder external rotator muscles
Straighten your back and pull your shoulder blade back and down
Stretch the elastic by rotating your shoulder backwards as far as possible
Your upper arm should not move from it's original position throughout the whole exercise
Y exercise
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To strengthen the shoulders and upper back
Elevate arms in a Y–pattern
Keep shoulders low
Keep you arms straight
In the end position pull shoulder blades back and down
Prone leg cross
2–3 x 6–8 repetitions
Purpose: To improve hip and back flexibility
Keep both shoulders firmly on the floor
Cross one knee towards the opposite hand
Progression: Perform with straight legs
Supine leg cross
2–3 x 6–8 repetitions
Purpose: To improve hip and back flexibility
Keep both shoulders firmly on the floor
Cross one knee towards the opposite hand
Progression: Perform with straight legs
Kneeling lunge
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To improve hip mobility
Place one foot forward, keeping the knee over the heel
Keep your back straight and push your hips forwards
Your hips should be in front of your belly button
Perform the same movement to the side and diagonally backwards, keeping your hips parallel
Rotational strength
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To improve rotation strength
Stand with your feet shoulder–width apart
Keep your arms straight
Your partner resists while you rotate
Take turns with your partner to rotate
Triple extension
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To enhance strength in the abdomen and the back
Extend upper body
Throw the ball explosively overhead
Stabilise in final position with knee over toe alignment
Kneeling rotational throwing
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To improve rotation strength
Kneel with extended hips and a straight back
Throw a weighted ball explosively by rotating your trunk
Overhead shoulder strength
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To strengthen the shoulder and upper back
Stretch the elastic diagonally upwards using two straight arms
As you reach the top, rotate your trunk and pull your shoulder blade back
Return slowly using one arm only
Shoulder external rotation
3 x 8–16 repetitions
Purpose: To strengthen the shoulder external rotator muscles
Straighten your back and pull your shoulder blade back and down
Stretch the elastic by rotating your shoulder backwards as far as possible
Your upper arm should not move from it's original position throughout the whole exercise
Sleepers stretch
3 x 30 seconds
Purpose: To improve shoulder mobility
Sidelying position
Place shoulder in about 90 degrees
Press underarm downwards
Shoulder rotates inwards
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