The purpose of the present study Stanley 46 (1999) was to profile competitive junior female tennis players and determine if differences in fitness exist between state (n = 13, age=16.23 yrs) and district (n = 10, age = 17.10 yrs) standard female tennis players. The fitness components measured included: maximal aerobic capacity (graded treadmill test to volitional exhaustion with direct oxygen analysis), strength (grip strength), power (vertical jump), speed (20 yard dash), muscular endurance (60second sit-up), agility (spider test), flexibility (sit and reach) and body composition (restricted anthropometric profile). A questionnaire was also administered to determine fitness training habits and attitudes to fitness. A series of unpaired t-tests found no significant differences between the groups on any of the body composition or fitness variables. The only significant difference occurred with the subjects playing age where the state group had been playing tennis for a significantly longer time (8.46 yrs) than the district group (6.55 yrs).
