Top tennis organizations from around the world came together to review all the science about what professional tennis players should eat. They looked at everything from what to eat before matches to how to stay healthy while traveling for tournaments. The experts found that eating real food is better than taking supplements, and that tennis players have special nutrition needs because matches are intense, travel is constant, and the competition season is very long. This guide helps players, coaches, and nutritionists make smart food choices to improve performance and stay healthy throughout their careers.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What professional tennis players should eat and drink to perform better, stay healthy, and handle the demands of traveling and competing throughout the year
  • Who participated: This wasn’t a study with participants. Instead, expert nutritionists and sports scientists reviewed hundreds of existing studies about tennis players of all types—men, women, young players, and wheelchair players
  • Key finding: Eating real, whole foods is more important than taking supplements for tennis players. The experts created practical eating guidelines for training days, match days, travel, and recovery from injuries
  • What it means for you: If you play competitive tennis, focus on eating nutritious meals and snacks rather than relying on pills or powders. Work with a qualified nutrition expert to create an eating plan that fits your training schedule and tournament calendar

The Research Details

This is a review article, which means experts didn’t conduct new experiments. Instead, they carefully read and analyzed hundreds of scientific studies about nutrition and tennis performance that were already published. The International Tennis Federation, Women’s Tennis Association, and Association of Tennis Professionals brought together top nutrition experts to look at all this research and decide what actually works.

The experts organized their findings into nine main topics: what makes tennis unique as a sport, how the body works during tennis training and matches, what to eat on training days, body weight and energy balance, what to eat on match days, whether supplements help, dealing with travel and different climates, eating during illness and injury recovery, and special needs for different groups of players.

This approach is valuable because it combines knowledge from many different studies and real-world experience from people who work with the world’s best tennis players every day.

Tennis is different from many other sports. Matches can last several hours, players travel constantly to different countries and time zones, and the competition season runs almost year-round. Players also need to be strong and fast while having good technique and strategy. A review like this helps make sure that all the scattered research gets organized into one clear guide that players and coaches can actually use

This statement comes from the most important tennis organizations in the world, so it represents the best current thinking in the sport. The experts reviewed scientific evidence, not just opinions. However, because this is a review of existing studies rather than a new experiment, the strength of recommendations depends on how much research exists for each topic. Some areas have strong evidence, while others may have less research available

What the Results Show

The expert group emphasized a “food first” approach, meaning real foods should be the foundation of a tennis player’s diet rather than relying on supplements. They found that tennis players need to eat enough calories to support their intense training and match play, with special attention to carbohydrates for energy and protein for muscle recovery.

For match days specifically, the experts recommend eating familiar foods that provide quick energy without causing stomach problems. The timing of meals matters—eating the right amount at the right time before, during, and after matches helps players perform better and recover faster.

The review also highlighted that many tennis players, especially young players and female players, sometimes don’t eat enough calories for their training level. This can hurt performance, increase injury risk, and cause health problems. The experts stress that players need to work with nutrition professionals to make sure they’re eating the right amount.

For players who travel frequently, the experts provided practical strategies like planning ahead for meals, staying hydrated in different climates, and managing jet lag through smart eating and drinking choices.

The review found that while some supplements might help in specific situations, most tennis players can get everything they need from food. Supplements should only be considered after a player has a solid foundation of good eating habits. The experts also addressed special situations like playing while sick or injured, noting that nutrition becomes even more important during recovery periods. For wheelchair tennis players and young developing players, the review provided tailored recommendations because their bodies have different needs

This statement updates and expands on previous nutrition guidance for tennis by including more recent research and addressing modern challenges like social media pressure about body image and the increasing professionalization of youth tennis. It also gives more detailed attention to female players’ specific needs and includes wheelchair tennis, which wasn’t emphasized as much in older guidelines

This is a review of existing research, so it’s only as good as the studies that have been done. Some topics in tennis nutrition have lots of research, but others have very little. The experts had to make recommendations based on general sports science when specific tennis research wasn’t available. Also, because tennis players vary so much—different ages, body types, training levels, and playing styles—recommendations can’t be one-size-fits-all. Individual players may need personalized adjustments

The Bottom Line

High confidence: Eat real, whole foods as your main nutrition strategy rather than relying on supplements. Eat enough calories to match your training level. Eat carbohydrates before and after training to fuel your body and help recovery. Drink enough water throughout the day and during matches. Medium confidence: Work with a qualified nutrition professional to create a personalized eating plan. Pay attention to what you eat on match days—practice your match-day eating plan during training. Low confidence: Most supplements aren’t necessary if you’re eating well, though a few specific supplements might help in certain situations—discuss this with your nutrition professional

This guide is most relevant for competitive tennis players at high levels, their coaches, and nutrition professionals working with tennis players. Young players developing their skills should also follow these principles. If you play tennis recreationally just for fun and fitness, these recommendations are still helpful but less critical. Parents of young tennis players should pay special attention to making sure their kids eat enough to support their training

You might notice better energy and focus during matches within 2-4 weeks of improving your eating habits. Better recovery and muscle development typically take 4-8 weeks to become noticeable. Long-term benefits like staying healthy throughout a career and avoiding injuries develop over months and years of consistent good nutrition

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Log your meals and snacks for 3-5 days before and after matches, noting energy levels, focus, and how you felt physically. Track whether you’re eating enough calories by monitoring your body weight (should stay stable if eating is adequate) and energy levels during training
  • Set a reminder to eat a carbohydrate-containing snack 1-2 hours before training or matches. Create a “match day meal plan” in the app and practice it during training matches before using it in real competitions. Set hydration reminders to drink water regularly throughout the day, not just during exercise
  • Weekly check-in: Review your meal logs to see if you’re eating enough variety and calories. Monthly assessment: Track your energy levels, recovery speed, and how you feel during matches. Quarterly review with a nutrition professional: Adjust your eating plan based on changes in your training schedule, competition calendar, or how your body is responding

This expert statement provides general nutrition guidance for tennis players based on current scientific evidence. It is not a substitute for personalized medical or nutritional advice from a qualified healthcare provider or registered dietitian. Individual nutritional needs vary based on age, sex, body composition, training intensity, and health status. Players with existing health conditions, eating disorders, or concerns about their nutrition should consult with a qualified nutrition professional or healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes. This information is intended to inform decision-making in consultation with appropriate professionals, not to replace professional medical judgment.