title: Core temperature and sweat responses in professional women's tennis players during tournament play in the heat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tennis is often played in hot, humid environments, intensifying the thermoregulatory strain placed on the athletes. As a safety measure, some tennis organizations allow for a 10-minute break in play between the second and third sets when environmental conditions are extreme. However, the actual effect of these breaks in reducing core temperature is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine change in core temperature after a 10-minute break in play and assess fluid balance in professional female tennis players during tournament matches in the heat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Women's Tennis Association Tour-sanctioned outdoor tournament on hard courts under hot conditions (30.3°C ± 2.3°C).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven professional tennis players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Change in core temperature after a 10-minute break in tournament play, fluid intake, and sweat losses during match play.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Core temperature was reduced from 38.92°C to 38.67°C (change of -0.25°C ± 0.20°C) when a break was taken (P  =  .02). Mean sweat rate during match play was 2.0 ± 0.5 L/h. During that time, mean fluid intake was 1.5 ± 0.5 L/h, resulting in a 1.2% ± 1.0% reduction in body mass.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female professional tennis players are subjected to high heat loads during match play in hot environments. However, a 10-minute break in play decreased core temperature in 6 of 7 players by an average of 0.25°C, indicating that the break provides practical benefits in the field. Furthermore, although mean sweat rate in this group of female tennis players was high, most athletes were still able to minimize mass loss to less than 2% of their prematch weight.
authors.affiliation: Gatorade Sports Science Institute, Barrington, IL 60010, USA. Melissa.Tippet@pepsico.com
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tippet
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stofan
authors.forename: Magie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacambra
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Horswill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D003681:Dehydration; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012146:Rest; D013546:Sweating; D013715:Tennis; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance; D055815:Young Adult