Individual performance and environment: Home advantage in ATP tennis

We investigate the role of home advantage (HA) in ATP tennis (2000–2022). Our findings confirm the existence of HA with a heterogeneous effect shaped by a combination of individual player characteristics and situational contexts. Individual mechanisms reveal that less experienced players benefit more from HA, while talent does not show a significant interaction. Cultural background plays a role, with individualistic players exhibiting a stronger HA, unlike collectivistic ones. Among situational factors, the absence of spectators during COVID-19 indicates that while HA persists, crowd presence does not seem to be the primary driver. Opponent travel fatigue amplifies HA, whereas prior knowledge of the facilities has no substantial impact. These findings extend beyond sports, indicating that structured, familiar environments enhance performance and resilience in professional settings, though their effects vary based on experience and cultural background.