James Knuckey, a reporter, took on Vodafone's 5G+ Serve robot at Wimbledon Park, successfully returning serves from tennis legends including Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Pete Sampras, Novak Djokovic, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The robot, weighing four tonnes and capable of reaching 3.5 metres in height, fired serves at speeds exceeding 150mph.
Facing the 5G Serve Robot
Standing at the baseline as the robot limbered up was terrifying. The machine moved on tracks, replicating serves from iconic players. Knuckey started with a 115mph serve from Venus Williams, which he returned comfortably. Next, he faced a 122mph serve from Serena Williams down the T, returning it with a backhand slice. He then used a single backhand to return a 146mph serve from seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras.
Taking on Djokovic and the Fastest Wimbledon Serve
Encouraged by his success, Knuckey accepted a serve from Novak Djokovic, a 112mph rocket with heavy spin. His return went for a six, more suited to cricket. Undeterred, he faced the fastest-ever Wimbledon serve of 153mph from Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, making a clean connection that landed close to the baseline.
How the Robot Works
The 5G Serve robot not only replicates historic serves but also captures live serve data from the broadcast feed within a second, recreating serves happening at Wimbledon in real time. Oliver Kibblewhite, founder of The 5GS which built the machine over three months in Cambridgeshire, said: 'We think it’s the fastest tennis-serving robot on the planet and certainly the most agile. We believe [it can serve] up to 160mph, but faster is technically possible, we just haven’t pushed it that far.'
Knuckey returned more serves than he missed, and the organisers from Vodafone told him he was among the best to have taken on the machine. Former England rugby star Joe Marler also faced the 5G+ Serve on Monday. The robot is open to the public throughout the day on Tuesday.
