Smart Wimbledon

Cutting-edge technology is set to make Wimbledon 2017 a vanguard of innovation.

17:22 11 July 2017

Wimbledon may look traditional but several apps and smart tech products are being used to help tennis players take home the prize. The latest designs of tennis rackets have in-built trackers that follow every stroke and are made with graphene, which helps players make stronger, faster strokes.

 

Rafael Nadal uses Babolat, a connected racket with a sensor embedded in the handle. It features a matching app via Bluetooth, which records every minute detail of performance. Meanwhile, Britain’s Johanna Konta wears Asics, a pair of revolutionary trainers that feature a clever cushioning system designed to reduce harsh court shock.

 

The court has also been upgraded with a new state-of-the-art lighting system that improves TV broadcasts. The practice courts are also fitted with 360-cameras that transmit live coverage to a dedicated app.

 

Meanwhile, three public WiFi hotspots provide visitors Internet access so they can tune in to the IBM Slamtracker app on their smartphones or check Wimbledon.com to check out players’ tactics and stats. There’s also Fred, a chatbot named after Fred Perry that will answer questions on everything from where the Pimm’s is to how to get home.

 

There’s also tech to predict outcomes. Competitive Margin predicts how two players will perform against each other.