This study explores the intricate relationship between brain executive functions and sports decision-making among university tennis players in Nanchang, China. Adopting a cross-sectional correlational and experimental design, the research aimed to determine how executive cognitive processes—specifically inhibitory control, shifting, and updating—affect athletes’ decision-making accuracy and reaction time in competitive tennis contexts. A total of 84 participants from Jiangxi Normal University, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, and Nanchang Institute of Technology were assessed using E-prime 3.0 software to measure motor decision-making and executive function. The experimental group underwent multitask cognitive training designed to enhance executive functions, while the control group followed regular training routines. Results showed that, after intervention, the experimental group exhibited significantly higher accuracy in inhibitory control and cognitive decision-making compared to the control group, although no substantial differences were observed in intuitive decision-making or reaction times. These findings confirm that executive functions play a vital role in optimizing performance under pressure, influencing the accuracy and adaptability of decision-making processes. The study contributes valuable insights to sports science and psychology, suggesting that integrating cognitive training into tennis instruction can improve athletes’ mental flexibility, inhibitory control, and decision-making performance. Future research should examine long-term intervention effects and expand the sample to different sports to generalize findings across athletic disciplines.
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