It seems The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour website could no longer ignore the recent deluge of headlines surrounding the rise of so many gluten-free athletes on tour.

In a recent online feature titled “Djokovic Is Gluten-Free… Are You?” author Matt Fitzgerald examines the gluten-free movement on tour and how this nutritional regimen is helping so many professional tennis players improve their game.

Fitzgerald also reveals that in addition to World No. 1 player Novak Djokovic and WTA star Sabine Lisicki, Mike Bryan, World No. 1 doubles player, had also adopted a gluten-free diet to alleviate his diagnosed gluten allergy.

“By avoiding the gluten containing foods, players minimize their GI distress,” said Page Love, Registered and Sport Dietitian Consultant for the ATP World Tour, WTA and United States Tennis Association.

Love also addressed the challenge a gluten-free diet presents for elite athletes like Djokovic, Lisicki and Bryan – as many foods containing the complex carbohydrates these athletes need are off limits.

“For the tennis player, this is possibly the most important energy source for their working muscles, since these foods comprise the mainstay of muscle energy foods in the tennis training diet.

“If you don’t eat enough carbohydrates, your energy level will lessen, causing early fatigue on the court, especially during intense tournament play.”

To read the entire article, Visit the ATP World Tour website.

For more on our Athletes f
or Awarenesscoverage of the recent rise in gluten-free tennis stars, check out the following posts:

• Tennis Legend Reveals Struggle with Gluten Intolerance
• Tennis Stars Continue to Tout Gluten-Free
• Novak Djokovic: No. 2 in the World and Newly Gluten-Free