TMCnet News
Data revolution begins in tennis [Top Stories] [Times of India](Times of India Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) SINGAPORE: Aces, winners, unforced errors, serve percentages, double faults - these are regular stats that help in performance analysis of the coach or player in tennis. While all these facts may help understand how the game went, it doesn't take into the account the psychological factors of the game. In what could be a game changer in women's tennis, software provider SAP and Women's Tennis Association announced the launch of a coaching app that uses data for deeper analysis of the players' shots or serves under pressure, their tendency to hit a particular shot, the second serve patterns, serve direction and other situational analysis. It will be provided on a real-time basis to the coaches during matches through a WTA-authorised mobile device, it was announced during the BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore on Tuesday. "Tennis is a data-driven sport and information is power. Many of our matches usually come down to just a few key points and any advantage that players and coaches can gain by analyzing trends and data could deliver an edge in the match. This technology sets a new standard for women's tennis and we're excited to work with SAP to innovate in our sport and provide state-ofthe-art resources to enhance our athletes' performances and our fans' experiences," WTA chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster said. World No. 7 Ana Ivanovic, who has been a strong supporter of the program, said: "It's amazing how much detail it can collect. It's one thing when you are playing and you have certain feelings and things that you think you are doing wrong. The analysis shows that may not actually be the cause of your failure. It is sometimes very encouraging...The way someone takes the ball on 4all games or 3-0 games, it really makes a difference because, you know what to expect and look for in your own game," she said. (c) 2014 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited |