BURNOUT IN ELITE TENNIS PLAYERS OF DIFFERENT JUNIOR CATEGORIES

ABSTRACT Introduction: Burnout syndrome manifests in athletes in the form of three main symptoms/characteristics: emotional and physical exhaustion, sport devaluation, and reduced sense of accomplishment. Faced with the need to achieve optimum performance, young tennis players are exposed to several stressors than can lead to burnout, yet few reports on burnout in tennis have been researched. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze burnout in elite tennis players in different junior categories (CAT14, CAT16, CAT18). Methods: A total of 130 athletes, including 102 men (x=15.14±1.3) and 28 women (x=15.04±1.13), were selected for this cross-sectional study. Burnout was measured using a version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Results: CAT18 tennis players had higher rates of overall burnout and sport devaluation compared with CAT16 and CAT14 players. CAT14 and CAT16 players had higher scores for “reduced sense of accomplishment,” in association with sport devaluation. Conclusion: Differences found in CAT18 players may reflect the demands of transition from the junior to the professional circuit. Reduced sense of accomplishment should be monitored in athletes, to prevent burnout and cessation of sports activities. Level of Evidence III; retrospective comparative.