Blame 'match format' for inconsistency in female tennis player's performance

A quantitative analysis of male and female tennis player's performance has revealed that the inconsistency in women's play is due to match format and not gender.

Lead researcher Stephanie Kovalchik carried out a research project to test the hypothesis that female tennis players are less consistent than their male counterparts.

Kovalchik explained that the results suggest that differences in consistency between the women's and men's tours are not due to gender but rather to differences in the format of matches men and women play at the Grand Slam events.

Researchers used six measures of consistency namely upsets, streaks, letdown, variation in match win percentage measures of consistency, variation in serve/return ability and reversals in game spread during the research.

Of the six measures of consistency researchers examined, half showed no gender differences in performance but for the three measures upsets, letdowns and variation in win percentage differences were found that suggest female players have had less consistent performance in the seasons considered.

Kovalchik stated that when it comes to comparisons of men's and women's athletic performance, the quantitative evidence in her analysis puts a spotlight on two strong biases among tennis commentators an overemphasis of performance at Grand Slams and the discounting of differences between the tours that extend beyond gender.

The research was presented in the 2015 Joint Statistical Meetings.