Development of Rally Pace and Other Match Characteristics in Women's Matches in the Australian Open 2017
Abstract
Only the best players reach the last stages of the grand-slam tournaments. The aim is to analyze rally pace characteristics and frequency of rally shots in women's matches between the early (1st to 4th round) and late (quarterfinal - final round) tournament stage at the Australian Open 2017.
We analyzed total 23 matches at the Australian Open 2017 and compared (1) point duration; (2) number of rally shots; (3) time between the points; (4) rally pace; and (5) work to rest ratio. The rally pace was significantly faster in the late tournament stage 1.16+-0.02 s compared to the early stage 1.23+-0.05 s (p<0.001).
In the late tournament stage the point duration was shorter (p<0.01), the number of rally shots was lower (p=0.03) and work to rest ratio was higher (p<0.001) compared to the early stage. The point was finished within the first 4 shots in 69 % in the late tournament stage, which was 10 % more compared to the early stage.
Coaches and players can use these findings to adopt useful strategy or playing style in their practice sessions and matches.