Examining the relationship between emotional intelligence and mental endurance of master tennis players

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence levels and mental toughness among master-level tennis athletes. The research was conducted using a relational screening model. The sample consisted of 309 master tennis players who participated in the 15th QNB Finansbank T400 Masters Tennis Tournament held on March 11, 2024, in Istanbul. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, utilizing the Sports Mental Toughness Inventory and the Sports Emotional Intelligence Scale as data collection tools. The data were analyzed using independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicated that female athletes scored higher than male athletes in both emotional intelligence and mental toughness. Similarly, non-national athletes demonstrated higher emotional and mental competence across several subdimensions compared to national athletes. Significant differences in emotional intelligence and mental toughness scores were found based on demographic variables such as age, educational background, income level, years of sport experience, and weekly training frequency. According to the CFA and SEM results, the most influential factor in mental toughness was the ability to "find solutions when faced with obstacles," while the most significant factor in emotional intelligence was the dimension of "evaluation and use of one's own emotions." Based on these findings, it is recommended that structured psychological support programs be implemented to enhance emotional awareness, social skills, and stress management capacities of master athletes in order to sustain performance and reinforce psychological resilience in sports.