Late Training Onset in Tennis: Implications for Professional Performance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56200/mentor.v5i1.12080Keywords:
sport specialization, tennis, age of initiation, injuries, talent developmentAbstract
Sport specialization in tennis during childhood has been debated due to its relationship with competitive performance and risks associated with developmental trajectories. The objective was to examine the scientific literature on age of initiation and specialization models in tennis in order to integrate evidence on pathways toward high performance. A narrative review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through a comparative analysis of studies addressing onset, training load, injuries, and dropout. The findings indicate that prepubertal exclusivity is not consistently associated with sustained competitive advantages and is linked to greater exposure to overuse injuries. It is concluded that structured training progression and longitudinal planning represent central factors in consolidating stable competitive trajectories.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Richar Jacobo Posso-Pacheco , Julio German Minda Guaman
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