Meal Plan for Tennis Player – Match Day
Tennis matches can vary in duration so will have varying demands on the nutritional status of the player. The plan below assumes you're already having optimal nutrition for training during the week, see Meal Plan for Tennis Player – training day, and so is designed to provide adequate fuel for a match.
As well as good nutrition on the day itself, it is recommended that you have a higher than normal carbohydrate intake at all meals, after training on the day prior to the match. The plan below aims to provide sufficient levels of all nutrients and sustained slow released low glycaemic carbohydrates for optimal energy throughout a tennis match. It also encourages good nutrition after the game, to ensure you're refuelled for training the next week.
The meal plan below is an example for a typical tennis match day:
Breakfast 7.30am
Large bowl of porridge made with jumbo oats + 200ml skimmed milk + water with a tsp of sugar and raisins if desired or 75g unsweetened muesli + 250ml skimmed milk
250ml fresh fruit juice
Tea/coffee
10.00am
4-5
oatcakes or rye crispbread with low fat soft cheese
Item fruit
Drink
Early lunch 12.00pm
100g chicken breast
or 120g fish
70g brown
basmati rice or 70g wholewheat pasta
Medium serving of vegetables / salad
Drink water
15 minutes before playing
During breaks
Oatcakes
100ml isotonic drink with 20g additional dextrose
Sip water
45 minutes later
Lean fillet steak or chicken breast or fish + herbs to taste
Main Meal
Boiled new potatoes
or basmati rice
or sweet potatoesLoads of vegetables
Low fat, no added sugar yoghurt
Drink
Evening snack
2-3 oatcakes with low fat soft cheese
100g mixed nuts & seeds
Item of fruit
Drink
The plan is merely a general guide, and portion sizes will need to be adapted to suit your daily routine and the match time. You must eat a variety of different meats/fish, complex carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables every day, and drink plenty of water.
Plans for people with illness or medical conditions in no way should override advice provided specifically for you by your doctor, clinical dietitian or other clinician. We advise that you seek the advice of a suitably qualified physician before commencing any exercise regime, following any dietary or nutritional regimen or beginning the use of any dietary supplements, legal or otherwise. The information provided on the Website is intended as information only and does not constitute advice. Therefore, it must not be relied on to assist in making or refraining from making a decision, or to assist in deciding on a course of action.