How Tennis Parents Can Use Match Stats to Support Their Child’s Development

One of the most valuable things a tennis parent can do is to provide feedback from their child’s matches. Most coaches, while fully invested in their players, have extremely busy schedules and cannot always be present at every competition. This is where parents can make a big difference: by recording simple but meaningful match statistics that allow coaches to focus on the right areas of improvement.

Why Stats Matter

Tennis is a game of details. A player can lose a match by just a handful of points, and without proper data, it’s easy to miss where the real issues are. Was the problem too many double faults? Not converting break points? Winning plenty of points on the first serve but struggling in rallies? Stats provide clarity and allow coaches to tailor training sessions precisely to the player’s needs.

What Parents Should Track

You don’t need to be a professional analyst to gather useful match stats. Start simple. Here are some key areas to focus on:

• Serve Performance

• First serve percentage (how many went in out of total)

• Double faults

• Points won on first and second serve

• Return of Serve

• Points won on opponent’s first serve

• Points won on opponent’s second serve

• Rally Outcomes

• Winners (successful aggressive shots)

• Unforced errors (mistakes without pressure from opponent)

• Forced errors (errors caused by opponent’s pressure)

• Key Moments

• Break points won/lost

• Tiebreak results

• Game score when most errors happen (e.g., under pressure at 30-40)

Tips for Parents When Taking Stats

• Keep it objective – don’t judge or coach, just record.

• Use a simple sheet or phone app to track points without overcomplicating.

• Focus on patterns, not perfection. One or two matches may not tell the whole story, but over time, patterns emerge.

• Share the stats with the coach in a clear summary (not pages of numbers) so they can quickly identify what matters.

How Coaches Benefit

By receiving these stats, coaches can:

• Save time in identifying strengths and weaknesses.

• Adjust practice plans to target the areas that cost the most points.

• Give players concrete feedback that connects training with competition.

This collaboration creates a powerful team effort: the coach provides expertise, the parent supplies valuable match insights, and the player gets the best possible support on their journey.