**3. Results**

#### *3.1. Serve and Return Performances of Professional Padel Players Regarding Gender*

Table 1 shows differences in serve and return statistics in relation to players' gender. With regards to serve performance, the players' gender determined the percentage of first and second serves (χ<sup>2</sup> = 5.05; gL = 1; CRS = 2.2; *p* < 0.05). Thus, men obtained a significantly higher percentage of successful first serves than women. Furthermore, both men and women aimed more than 60% of their serves towards the side wall. Regarding return statistics, significant differences between men and women were found with regards to direction (χ<sup>2</sup> = 9.647; gL = 2; CRS = 3.2; *p* < 0.01), height (χ<sup>2</sup> = 9.354; gL = 2; CRS = 2.9; *p* < 0.01) and stroke type (χ<sup>2</sup> = 4.230; gL = 1; CRS = 2.1; *p* < 0.05). Thus, women played a significantly higher proportion of backhand or cross-court returns and used the lob more when returning than men did. Finally, the point-result variable showed how men won a significantly higher percentage of points in a serve situation than women (χ<sup>2</sup> = 11.435; gL = 1; CRS = 3.4; *p* < 0.01).

Figure 2 shows the relationship between the percentage of points won by the couple with the serve and the number of strokes per point, in relation to the players' gender. The correlation test results showed a significant relationship for male (*p* < 0.001; *r* = 0.62) and female (*p* < 0.001; *r* = 0.54) players between the percentage of points won in the serve and the number of strokes per point. Thus, the percentage of points won by the player with the serve went down as the number of strokes went up. Furthermore, with regards to gender, serving advantage was lost after the 12th stroke for men, while for women it was after the seventh stroke.

**Figure 2.** Percentage of points won by the serving couple with relation to the number of strokes per points: gender differences.


**Table 1.** Percentages for the serve and serve–return performances of the professional male and female padel players.

Note: *n* = Number; % = Percentage; \* = *p* < 0.05; a, b = significant differences indicated in the Z tests for comparison of column proportions from *p* < 0.05, adjusted according to Bonferroni.

#### *3.2. Serve and Return Performances of Professional Padel Players Regarding Court Side*

Figure 3 shows serve statistics with regard to court side where said serve was played. As may be observed in the court shown above, court side significantly determined serve direction (χ<sup>2</sup> = 18.202; gL = 2; CRS = 3.3; *p* < 0.01). It may be observed that most serves went towards the side wall, followed by the "T" and, in smaller proportion, the middle of the court. Furthermore, on the left side (ad court) players executed 12% more serves towards the side wall, whereas on the right side (deuce court) players served 14% more towards the "T." On the other hand, no significant differences were found with regards to court side for effectiveness (χ<sup>2</sup> = 1.047; gL = 1; *p* > 0.05) and serve number (χ<sup>2</sup> = 2.972; gL = 1; *p* > 0.05).

Figure 4 shows return statistics with regards to the player's side of the court. As may be observed, players executed around 60% of straight returns, with no significant differences regarding court side (χ<sup>2</sup> = 2.048; gL = 2; *p* > 0.05). Furthermore, players obtained a high percentage of return effectiveness, with more than 90% of successful returns, and no difference between the right and left sides (χ<sup>2</sup> = 4.444; gL = 2; CRS = 3.0; *p* > 0.05). Playing side significantly determined the return's direction (χ<sup>2</sup> = 28.711; gL = 2; CRS = 7.6; *p* < 0.01). Thus, players returning from the left side executed almost 15% more down the line returns than players on the right side. Furthermore, the kind of returning stroke also showed significant differences regarding court side. Left side players executed more than 75% of their returns

backhand, whereas right side players registered more balanced values, although they did execute more forehand returns. Finally, there were no significant differences between return statistics and stroke type, height or direction (*p* < 0.005).

**Figure 4.** Serve return statistics regarding court side.
