Gender comparison of in-match psychological traits of tennis players: dynamic network analysis

Abstract

This study aims to explore/investigate the existence/influence of tennis players' psychological traits. For this purpose datasets on tennis matches of professional male (ATP) and female (WTA) tennis players were collected. Dynamical network analysis was applied with the RSiena program. Results revealed difference of in-match psychological characteristics influence on ability to build positive head-to-head for male and female players. Furthermore a revealed tendency of head-to-head networks to cyclic structures is discussed. The study represents one of the first attempts to explore sport related content with tools of dynamical network analysis.