Match activity profile in elite female doubles beach tennis

Abstract

Beach tennis (BT) is a sport that combines elements from various racket disciplines and is played mostly in pairs on a sand court measuring 8 × 16 m. Despite its recent global expansion, there is still a lack of studies that comprehensively characterise its competitive demands. The aim of this study was to describe the temporal parameters and technical-tactical indicators of professional women's doubles BT, and secondarily, to examine potential differences between sets. Nine matches (6.527 shots) from the 2024 Sand Series Tour Finals were analysed. A cross-sectional observational design was performed. Matches had an average duration of 74.6 ± 27:1 min, of which only the 17% (12.5 ± 4:1 min) represented the effective playing time. Rallies lasted on average 6.8 ± 0.8 s, followed by recovery pauses of 23.3 ± 2.0 s, resulting in a work-to-rest ratio of 1:4.6. The forehand volley (18.4%) and cross-court play (53.4%) were the most frequent technical-tactical actions, with the left-side player contributing to 50.4% of all shots. No differences were observed between sets in temporal or technical–tactical parameters (p > 0.05). These findings provide a solid foundation for designing optimal training interventions tailored to the specific characteristics of professional women's doubles BT.