Former England rugby star Joe Marler has stepped out of his comfort zone to face one of sport's toughest challenges - returning elite-level tennis serves from Wimbledon stars in a cutting-edge 5G-powered experience at Wimbledon Park. The unique event, held at Wimbledon Park courts just a stone's throw from The Championships, uses a first-of-its-kind robotic arm that captures live serve data from the Wimbledon broadcast feed and streams it instantly over a dedicated 5G+ network slice.
Brits Overestimate Their Tennis Abilities
This experience was developed following new research from Vodafone, which reveals how confident Brits are about their tennis abilities. A third of Brits (34%) believe they could return a professional serve with the right training, rising to 43% of men and more than half (51%) of those aged 35 or under. For some, that confidence goes even further, with one in 10 (10%) backing themselves to do it in fewer than three attempts, and nearly one in five (19%) believing they could achieve the impressive feat with no training at all.
The data also reveals that 13% of Brits think they could return a serve from men's world number one Jannik Sinner, and 22% from Serena Williams, while nearly one in four (24%) men believe they could win a match against a professional at SW19 if they had time to prepare.
Joe Marler's Humbling Experience
One of those who took on the challenge was former rugby player and TV star, Joe Marler. He said: “I was up for the challenge – I’m not a professional tennis player, but I’ve got decent reactions and some padel experience, so I backed myself going in. Safe to say, I was humbled. It’s a lot harder than it looks!”
Marler added: “It was amazing though. It really shows you just how fast and powerful the shots are. The atmosphere of live sport is incredible, and it’s great that Vodafone can use its network to give people a whole new way to experience the excitement and adrenaline of the game.”
Insight from Wimbledon Champion Jamie Murray
Two-time Wimbledon doubles champion and co-host of ‘The Set’ podcast, Jamie Murray, commented: “Returning a top level serve is one of the hardest things an athlete can do, and not something most people will ever truly experience. When you’re facing an opponent, quick reaction times matter, but it’s also about spotting subtle cues and anticipating the shot – often before the ball has even left the racket. When you do nail that return, it’s incredibly satisfying, and it’s brilliant that Vodafone can give people the chance to experience that rush for themselves, especially knowing they’re up against the very best in that moment.”
Innovative Fan Experiences Drive Engagement
Innovative fan experiences at sporting events are cited by 41% of Brits as an important factor in bringing them closer to the action. For some, this includes exploring new viewing angles through AR or VR (16%) while, for others (12%), it’s about having the chance to feel what it’s like to be an elite athlete.
As Official Connectivity Partner of The Championships, Wimbledon, Vodafone has enhanced its 5G network across Wimbledon and the grounds, delivering what customers care about most: increased capacity, with faster speeds, over a wider area. This means more reliable connectivity and better performance when the network is busiest.
