Category: Tennis

According to a 2022 Michigan Medicine study, pickle juice was 30% more effective at stopping cramps than water, highlighting a key reason why tennis players are drinking pickle juice during matches. This unusual hydration strategy has been adopted by numerous professional athletes to combat the sudden, painful muscle cramps that can derail a performance.

An average male tennis player can burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories per day, demonstrating the immense energy demands of the sport. This high-intensity, intermittent activity requires a precise nutritional strategy, raising the important question: what does a tennis player eat to fuel their body for elite performance and rapid recovery?

Reports and interviews with his support staff indicate that tennis champion Carlos Alcaraz does not publicly disclose using creatine, but has notably made other significant dietary changes, including adopting a gluten-free diet to boost his on-court performance. His physiotherapist, Juanjo Moreno, has been instrumental in guiding his nutrition, focusing on fish, fruits, and gluten-free carbohydrates.

According to the USTA, carbohydrates are a crucial source of fuel for tennis players, and pasta is a prime example. So, do tennis players eat pasta? Absolutely, this staple food is a cornerstone of many athletes' nutritional strategies, used to provide sustained energy for long matches and aid in post-game recovery.

In 2010, after a notable mid-match physical collapse, Novak Djokovic made a radical and career-defining change to his diet. This was the year when did Novak go gluten-free, following a diagnosis of gluten and dairy intolerance from Serbian nutritionist Dr. Igor Četojević.

According to the ITF, professional tennis players can consume between 3,500 and 5,000 calories a day to fuel their intense training and matches. This high energy demand directly answers the question of what diet do tennis players have, which is meticulously planned around strategic nutrition and hydration.

In 2011, Novak Djokovic had one of the greatest tennis seasons ever, winning three Grand Slams and achieving the number one ranking shortly after completely overhauling what he ate. This remarkable career shift was famously enabled by his discovery of a severe intolerance to gluten and dairy, leading many to ask what kind of diet is Djokovic on today.

As a professional athlete, Coco Gauff has specific nutritional needs, but famously maintains a flexible approach to her diet, incorporating moderate indulgences like chips and ice cream. She has a well-balanced routine that includes dedicated match-day meals, plenty of protein, and her famous courtside fruit salad snacks.

Professional tennis players can expend anywhere from 1,100 to over 1,700 calories during a single 150-minute match, demanding an extremely precise and high-volume nutritional strategy to fuel performance and recovery. Their daily eating plan is meticulously calibrated to provide sustained energy, aid in muscle repair, and maintain optimal hydration throughout grueling training sessions and long tournament play.

Following years of speculation and a major career turnaround, Novak Djokovic's diet has been a hot topic of discussion, but the short answer to "is Djokovic completely vegan?" is no. The world-renowned tennis star prefers the term 'plant-based' and has explained that he avoids labels due to their misinterpretation.