Competitive Consistency in Youth Tennis: A Review of Emotional Regulation and Control

Youth tennis performance depends on psychological factors such as emotional regulation and attentional control. However, existing evidence tends to analyze these variables in isolation, limiting the understanding of competitive consistency. The aim of this study was to analyze the scientific literature on emotional regulation, attentional control, and psychological strategies that contribute to maintaining stable competitive performance in critical match situations among youth tennis players. A narrative review was conducted through searches in Scopus and Web of Science, selecting studies on emotional regulation, attentional control, and psychological strategies in youth tennis, which were comparatively analyzed to identify relevant patterns. The results indicate that competitive consistency is associated with emotional regulation, attentional control, and psychological training, highlighting that attentional refocusing, self-confidence, and mental strategies help maintain performance stability. It is concluded that competitive consistency is defined as an integrated self-regulatory capacity, where emotional and attentional control enable performance resetting between points, with psychological training being essential to sustain competitive stability.