The research of the effects of the techniques (drop shot-lob-slice) not involved in Internetional Tennis Number (ITN) test on elite players

One of the measurement and evaluation methods used to develop tennis, one of the most popular sports branches in the world, is the International Tennis Number (ITN) test. The ITN test, including a limited number of stroke techniques, began to be applied worldwide in 2004. There are also stroke techniques that are not included in this test, but affect the result of the match. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of stroke techniques not included in the ITN test on match result in elite athletes. 24 men's and 24 women's matches (44 male and 42 female athletes in total) randomly selected from the tournaments organized by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) have been analyzed within the scope of the study. The selected matches consist of 16 clay court (8 women, 8 men), 16 hard court (8 women, 8 men) and 16 grass court (8 women, 8 men) matches. In the analysis, findings regarding the total points scored, total strokes of forehand, backhand, backhand slice, forehand slice, return forehand slice, return backhand slice, lob, drop shot, faulty forehand, faulty backhand and scoring rates in matches where techniques not included in the ITN test were used have been obtained. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent sample t-test were used for the statistical analysis of the research data. The numerical values obtained were tested with p<0.05 significance level. According to the independent sample t-test conducted between the genders, as a result of the research, while there is a statistically significant difference between total forehand errors (p=0.01), total backhand errors (p=0.01), total forehand slice strokes (p=0.01), total return forehand slice strokes (p=0.01), there is no statistically significant difference in scoring (p=0.84) in matches in which techniques not included in the ITN test were used. According to the independent sample t-test conducted between winning and losing female athletes, a statistically significant difference is found between total backhand strokes (p=0.01), total forehand errors (p=0.01), total backhand errors (p=0.01), and winning matches using techniques not included in the ITN test (p=0.04). In terms of winning and losing male athletes, a statistically significant difference is found between total forehand errors (p=0.01), total backhand errors (p=0.01) and winning matches using techniques not included in the ITN test (p=0.03). In the results of the ANOVA test performed according to the court floor differences, a statistically significant difference is found in female athletes between total backhand strokes (p=0.01), forehand errors (p=0.01), backhand errors (p=0.01), return forehand strokes (p=0.01), return backhand strokes (p=0.01), forehand slice strokes (p=0.03) ) and scoring in matches using techniques not included in the ITN test (p=0.01). In the results of ANOVA test performed with court types, a statistically significant difference is found in male athletes between forehand errors (p=0.01), return forehand strokes (p=0.01), return backhand strokes (p=0.01), and scoring in matches using techniques not included in the ITN test (p=0.01). It has been determined in the light of the results obtained that the athletes who won the match affected the match result by using the techniques (drop shot, slice, lob) not included in the ITN test. Performance athletes can improve their in-match tactical variations by including these strategies in their training programs that are not included in the ITN test, and as a result, they can obtain better outcomes in the tournaments they compete in.