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Sequences of service points and the misperception of momentum in elite tennis

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  • Peter O’Donoghue
  • Emily Brown

Abstract

Previous performance analysis research has concluded that momentum exists in squash performance. However, these studies did not use the statistical procedures used in research into “streakiness” in sports performance. The purpose of the current investigation was to analyse sequences of service points in 13 elite men’s singles tennis. Neither the chi square tests nor the Wald Wolfowitz run tests found any more sequences of points of the same outcome than would be expected by chance (p > 0.05). This suggests that there is no momentum in point sequences in elite men’s singles tennis and that the widely held view of players, coaches, commentators and spectators that there is momentum in tennis performance is a misperception.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter O’Donoghue & Emily Brown, 2009. "Sequences of service points and the misperception of momentum in elite tennis," International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 113-127, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:rpanxx:v:9:y:2009:i:1:p:113-127
    DOI: 10.1080/24748668.2009.11868468
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    Cited by:

    1. Meier, Philippe & Flepp, Raphael & Ruedisser, Maximilian & Franck, Egon, 2020. "Separating psychological momentum from strategic momentum: Evidence from men’s professional tennis," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    2. Yixiong Cui & Miguel-Ángel Gómez & Bruno Gonçalves & Jaime Sampaio, 2018. "Performance profiles of professional female tennis players in grand slams," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Borooah, Vani, 2022. "The Importance of the Serve in Winning Points in Tennis: A Bayesian Analysis Using Data for the Two winners of the 2019 French Open Singles," MPRA Paper 113069, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Philippe Meier & Maximilian Rüdisser & Raphael Flepp & Egon Franck, 2019. "Investigating the conditions for psychological momentum in the field: Evidence from men’s professional tennis," Working Papers 383, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).

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