Goodbye Human Coaches The Future of Tennis May Be in This Robot’s Hands

It weighs just 7 kilograms, but it’s powered by an AI trained with over 8,000 hours of professional tennis experience. The Tenniix robotic tennis coach adjusts to your skill level and reacts to your every move.

You might remember when Deep Blue beat world chess champion Garry Kasparov — but forget that. In tennis, AI isn’t trying to defeat us; it’s trying to make us better. The Tenniix robot coach, recently launched on Kickstarter by T-Apex, represents a major leap in a field that had long been stagnant. Instead of just firing balls from a fixed point, this mobile robot follows your movements, analyzes your game, and responds intelligently.

No wonder it hit its crowdfunding goal in just five minutes. This isn’t just a gadget — it’s a training revolution.

A Robot That Acts Like a Real Tennis Coach

Unlike the standard ball launchers we’re used to, Tenniix is something entirely different. This compact 7-kg robot is packed with advanced capabilities. Equipped with a 1080p camera, it tracks player movement in real time and adjusts its shots accordingly. It doesn’t just shoot balls in predictable patterns — it adapts shot speed, spin, and trajectory based on where the player is and how they move, mimicking the responses of a real-life tennis coach.

The AI has been trained on over 8,000 hours of footage from professional coaching sessions and real matches. It uses a gimbal system to rotate horizontally up to 46° and vertically up to 50°, allowing it to simulate a wide range of strokes — from towering lobs to powerful forehands from the baseline.

Not Quite Like Training With Sinner… But Close

Top players like Jannik Sinner have full-time teams and expert coaches — but most amateur players don’t have that luxury. Many struggle to find partners or consistent practice sessions. That’s where Tenniix steps in. With a serve speed of up to 120 km/h, it can challenge even experienced players.

What really sets it apart is the ability to customize it with over 1,000 built-in drills. It may not (yet) have Alcaraz’s signature two-handed backhand or the strategic flexibility of a seasoned human coach, but it offers something no human can: 24/7 availability and unmatched shot consistency. That’s a solid advantage — game point to Tenniix.

How Much Will It Cost?

The robot comes in three versions — Basic, Pro, and Ultra — with Kickstarter prices ranging from $699 to $1,499. The most promoted version, the $999 Pro model (because the mid-tier always gets the spotlight — classic marketing), includes a wristband voice control module and an app to track and store session data.

Imagine what a young Sinner could’ve achieved with access to this kind of technology in the remote valleys of South Tyrol, where high-level training partners aren’t easy to come by. But this is just the beginning. T-Apex, the San Francisco-based company behind the project, has been developing robotic fitness tools since 2018 with the goal of making professional-grade training more accessible to everyone.

Training’s High-Tech Future

T-Apex isn’t the only player in this space. At Georgia Tech, researchers have created ESTHER — a wheelchair-mounted robot that can also play tennis. But Tenniix stands out for its portability and ease of use. It holds up to 100 balls, and its battery can last up to four hours — enough for roughly 4,000 serves in one session.

We’re not quite at the point of replacing human tennis coaches — and that’s a good thing — but the trajectory is clear: tennis training is becoming more and more tech-driven. And maybe one day, when the next Grand Slam champion lifts their trophy, we’ll know a little robot coach played a part in shaping that victory.Anexa

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