Periodization Training for Tennis Part 3

Tennis demands proper warm-up and flexibility training for all areas of the body. Put simply, a
great warm-up and regular tennis specific stretching play a critical role in peak performance and injury prevention.
In this third article I want to outline the oncourt warm-up we’ve developed working with some of the world’s top
players, and show you how you can make it a regular part of your periodization training program. In subsequent
articles I’ll show you a complete tennis specific stretching program designed to allow your body to compete at peak
performance levels and help prevent unnecessary injuries.

The purpose of the warm-up is to prepare the body to respond optimally to stretching and the workout
that follows, thereby reducing the risk of muscle or tendon injury.

The active warm-up we will be demonstrating here involves a series of low intensity exercises,
designed to elevate body temperature, increases heart rate, and prepare both the upper and lower body for more
intense stretching and training. Work until you experience a light sweat, that indicates the right duration and
intensity of the warm-up. The exercises we will show you should allow you to achieve this on court in about three to
five minutes.