A tennis exhibition at the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Finals has offered spectators a glimpse of what high-tech training could look like in the future, with a two-wheeled robot taking on former Chinese tennis player Wang Qiang in a rally on court.
The unusual contest took place during the tournament, which began on Sept. 22 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
Instead of a human opponent, Wang faced Tenniix Ultra Max, a compact robotic player equipped with artificial intelligence and designed to return tennis balls with increasing consistency.
Moving laterally on two wheels, the machine followed Wang’s shots, adjusted its position and sent the ball back across the net.
During the exchanges, it changed the type and trajectory of its returns, alternating between topspin shots and high, looping balls that extended the rallies.
Behind the performance is an AI-based system developed by robotics companies LimX Dynamics and its ecosystem partner Enhanced Robotics. The system is designed to process several aspects of play simultaneously, including the ball’s trajectory, spin and expected landing position.
The robot also analyzes the developing situation on court to anticipate the next stage of a rally, allowing it to adjust its movements and shot selection in real time.
Its ability to vary the release point of the ball is another feature. By changing its squat-and-rise motion, the robot can release shots from heights ranging from about 1.2 meters to 1.6 meters, giving it greater control over the trajectory of its returns.
The developers say the technology is still being refined, particularly in areas such as reaction speed, shot placement and training strategies.
If those capabilities continue to advance, the companies envision the robot being used as a supplementary practice partner for high-level players, including athletes training with provincial and national teams.
The demonstration in Shenzhen highlights a growing effort to combine artificial intelligence and robotics with conventional sports training, potentially giving players access to automated practice partners capable of adapting to different rally conditions.
For now, however, Tenniix Ultra Max remains a technological novelty on the tennis court — one that can already keep a former professional player busy through a sustained exchange.
