Gender, Competitiveness and Physical Characteristics: Evidence from Professional Tennis

Forthcoming in Journal of Sports Economics

35 Pages Posted: 13 Oct 2013 Last revised: 26 Feb 2014

See all articles by Alex Krumer

Alex Krumer

University of St. Gallen

Mosi Rosenboim

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Offer Shapir

New York University (NYU) - New York University (NYU), Shanghai

Date Written: January 29, 2014

Abstract

Gender differences in tennis have sparked a great deal of heated debate. Using data from the 24 top men's and 23 top women's singles tournaments in 2010 we find a gender difference in the competitiveness (tightness) with regard to the final score of tennis sets. However, when using two physical variables (height and BMI) that have not been investigated in this context before and controlling for the physical characteristics of the players, this gender difference completely disappears. Moreover, this result remains robust in propensity score analysis. To narrow this disparity between the number of games in men's and women's sets, it might be worthwhile for tennis authorities to consider making some changes in court conditions on a gender basis.

Keywords: gender differences, performance under pressure, contests, tennis

JEL Classification: J16, J24, J24

Suggested Citation

Krumer, Alex and Rosenboim, Mosi and Shapir, Offer, Gender, Competitiveness and Physical Characteristics: Evidence from Professional Tennis (January 29, 2014). Forthcoming in Journal of Sports Economics, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2339568 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2339568

Alex Krumer (Contact Author)

University of St. Gallen ( email )

St. Gallen
Switzerland

Mosi Rosenboim

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev ( email )

1 Ben-Gurion Blvd
Beer-Sheva, 84105
Israel

Offer Shapir

New York University (NYU) - New York University (NYU), Shanghai ( email )

1555 Century Ave
Shanghai, Shanghai 200122
China

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