Home · The 4-in-1 method · Physical & mental training Pillar 03 · Pro conditioning

Physical & mental training for tennis players

Physical resilience. Mental strength. Built step by step, measured with the right indicators — on court and off court.

Tennis player doing a reaction drill with light pods on a clay court
5+ hoursRepeated efforts over 2–3 matches for a man to win a Grand Slam
3+ hoursRepeated efforts over 2–3 matches for a woman to win a Grand Slam
300–500High-intensity sprints per match
25 secondsRest between points
Physical resilience · mental strength

The effort is physical — and mental.

When we talk about effort, we immediately think of the physical aspect. It is true that this is crucial. It is developed step by step, by measuring the right indicators in a player. Tennis is characterised by repeated, intense, sudden movements that can last for several hours. We use one of the most relevant and sophisticated tests for tennis players: the 30-15 IFT test.

The mental effort is also colossal, particularly as tennis is an individual sport, with little opportunity for coaching during a match. Mental strength is developed on court through the quality of decision-making under pressure, the ability to concentrate and attitude — but also off court with a specialist in this discipline.

The 30-15 intermittent fitness test (IFT) for tennis players
Physical · what we test

The 30-15 IFT test.

  • Intermittent speed
  • Aerobic capacity (VO₂max)
  • Cardiovascular recovery capacity
  • Efficiency of change of direction
Coach’s note — Geoffroy. Modern tennis does not require you to run a marathon at a constant pace. It demands that you repeat between 300 and 500 high-intensity sprints per match, with only 25 seconds’ rest in between. This is exactly what the 30-15 IFT replicates.

If you use Luc Léger’s VMA to do interval training (30/30) on the pitch, your sessions will either be too easy or irrelevant. The VIFT obtained from the 30-15 test is generally 2 to 3 km/h higher than the standard VMA because it takes into account the player’s ability to sprint and recover. It is this speed that enables the fitness coach to design ultra-precise, personalised interval sessions tailored to tennis.

To conclude, we obtain three key metrics: tennis endurance, tennis speed and tennis recovery.
Mental preparation warm-up on court — video

Example of a mental warm-up exercise for a player ranked in the ITF Junior Top 500.

Mental · what we train

Decisions under pressure.

  • Decision-making under pressure
  • Focus — reset and refocus
  • Reactivity
Coach’s note — Geoffroy. Mental training on court is all too often ignored. I incorporate it in various ways, two to three times a week, either before, during or after the session.
The J2Pro signature

An international network.

MENTAL PREPARATION

A specialist when needed

We can provide a mental preparation specialist based on the player’s needs, or work with the player’s current mental preparation coach.

GYMS

Six European countries

We also provide access to gyms in six different European countries for training, including during tournaments, to make the most of the time available.

Build a body and a mind for the tour.Call or send a message: +33 665 733 943