Could you return a serve from Emma Raducanu clocking in at 110 mph, or handle a blistering 145 mph stroke from Andy Murray? What about taking on Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s record-breaking 153 mph serve from last year at Wimbledon?
This year’s tournament visitors have had the chance to test their skills against a robotic serving machine instead of their tennis idols. This innovative machine provides a unique experience for many.
For some, it offered a refreshing break from waiting in line for tickets, while others gained a deeper appreciation for the exceptional skills displayed on Centre Court.
Alex Ellis found the robot to be a more formidable opponent than he anticipated. “I got one over the net from Sir [John] McEnroe, so that will do, but [the Ukrainian player Elina] Svitolina’s – I couldn’t get anywhere near it,” he remarked.
“It felt like pressure to be honest, it’s almost like I’m playing at Wimbledon, but it was enjoyable. It definitely shows how competitive it is at the real level.”
The cutting-edge robot mimics the speed, angle, and trajectory of serves delivered by top players, utilizing a 5G network to access real-time data from Centre Court.
Oliver Kibblewhite, whose agency developed the machine, mentioned that the robotic arm was engineered to be “Now I can relate to [professional players] a bit,” to accommodate faster serves compared to standard tennis serving machines. He noted that around half of the participants were able to return at least one of three serves, with Raducanu’s serve being the most sought after.
Tennis coach Arthur Culicovschi described his encounter as “hotter than the surface of the sun” He successfully returned a serve from Jannik Sinner, the Italian No. 1 seed, but struggled with those from Roger Federer and former US star Andy Roddick.
Mori Arathoon from Germany observed that the robot served from a significantly higher point than he was used to in his local tennis league, likening it to being hit from a second story. “We have upped our shade and shelter here for the public,” he reflected.
Wimbledon is preparing for an extended heatwave beginning Friday, just a week after the area experienced temperatures soaring to 35C (95F).
The tournament’s operations director, Michelle Dite, shared her sentiments, stating, “We’re always trying to make sure that we can provide as much shaded shelter as we can, not just for our temporary infrastructure, but also when we’re doing permanent upgrades here.” after describing last week’s qualifying matches as “think really carefully about what an English summer garden will look like into the future when water is harder to come by”
“probably the most scrutinised piece of turf in the world” she added. “The grasses that we’re selecting now – they’re more drought-tolerant and wear-tolerant – help us on weeks like last week,”
New this year is a retractable roof over the tea lawn, providing shade for attendees enjoying strawberries and cream, along with two additional covered social spaces in the southern village and the popular “Two male players – Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner – are notorious for sliding into their shots, so that means that tears in the turf,” area.
Sally Bolton, Wimbledon’s chief executive, highlighted a significant focus on evolving the planting strategy to “think really carefully about what an English summer garden will look like in the future when water becomes scarcer,” anticipating forecasts that predict temperatures in England may reach 45C by 2056.
Neil Stubley, the venue’s head of courts and horticulture, expressed that he is planning for the next five to ten years to safeguard “probably the most scrutinized piece of turf in the world.”
“The grasses we’re selecting now – they’re more drought-tolerant and wear-tolerant – will help us during weeks like last week,” he explained, though he noted that higher overnight temperatures of 30C can hinder grass recovery due to the lack of cooler nights.
Additionally, the courts will need to adapt to evolving dynamics, including various playing styles and match durations.
“Two male players – Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner – are notorious for sliding into their shots, which leads to tears in the turf,” Stubley remarked.
