A Technical Report on Chen Ti’s Participation in the 2009 Davis Cup tie between Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan

Abstract

[[abstract]]This study focuses on Chen Ti’s participation in a 2009 Davis Cup tie between Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and Kazakhstan and his training program leading up to the event, which was based on sports science principles. It also records in narrative form the training process and subsequent results. Chen’s highest ranking in his professional tennis career was 255th in the world, achieved in 2005. The goal of the program was for him to beat players ranked inside the top 200 and help Chinese Taipei win the tie. The study consists of four chapters. Chapter One describes Chen’s training history and athletic attributes. Chapter Two reviews literature to explore the history, rules and physiological and psychological dimensions of tennis. Chapter Three covers the planning process for the training program and the ensuing competition. The final chapter describes the training program and its results and the Davis Cup tie. The training program was divided into three phases, with the first and second phases involving “playing in place of training,” and the third phase consisting of six weeks of training in Miami. The results are summarized from training, competitive, and self-examination perspectives. Training results consist of psychological aspects, such as the use of somatic techniques and keeping a diary to “face the darkness,” physical aspects, such as strength and agility training, balanced-strength development, and core training, and technical aspects, such as improving the velocity of the serve and strengthening Chen’s overall arsenal of shots through strategic technical training. Competitive results focus on the Davis Cup tie. In the opening day singles against world No. 145 Mikhail Kukushkin, Chen cramped up in the third set because of nervous tension, and he eventually lost 7-6 (9), 7-5, 1-6, 5-7, 4-6. The defeat left Chen depressed but he regained his will to fight after some self-reflection. In the first reverse singles, Chen rode a big serve and attacking forehand to victory over world No. 180 Yuri Schukin, clinching the tie for Chinese Taipei. The study’s goal was achieved. The process of self-examination found that Chen needs to enhance his ability to “relax” mentally and improve his agility and court movement.