Abstract

Author(s): Tavío, Pablo; Domínguez, Raúl

An appropiate nutrition can optimize sports performance and health status of the athlete. Nutritional needs are specific to each sport, which requires specific guidelines for each sport mode. All dietary and nutritional approach in sport should be based on the identification of factors wich decrease sports performance. Based on these factors, we identify the nutritional targets. Finally, we establish the most appropriate strategies for each of the objectives. In tennis we have identified the depletion of energy substrates, decreased pH, dehydration, hyperthermia or central fatigue as factors that decrease the performance. Based on these factors, we have established a series of nutritional goles and nutritional strategies that take into account the requirements and macronutrient intake timing and dosage of those sports supplements that can have an ergogenic effect on tennis.