We brought Sportbot to the UTR Pro Tennis Tour in Ljubljana to see how a moving tennis ball machine would fit into a serious tournament week. Players used it to warm up and train between matches. Former ATP world No. 62 Fred Gil tried it too. For our team, the day provided something we needed: a clear record of Sportbot being used around real match preparation.
In brief
- Players used Sportbot during the UTR tournament in Ljubljana.
- Fred Gil tested the machine and shared his first reaction on camera.
- The day became the start of a collaboration between Fred and Sportbot.
- The footage gave our team a clearer view of how Sportbot fits into a real training session.
Why the tournament setting mattered
Players came to Ljubljana to compete, with their own routines and plans for the week. Sportbot joined that existing environment. The footage follows the machine from its introduction through to players hitting from its feeds.
The UTR Pro Tennis Tour brings together players who need regular, competitive matches. That made the Ljubljana event a much more useful test than another session organised around the product.
The moment Fred Gil stepped in
Fred Gil’s official ATP record lists a career-high singles ranking of world No. 62. He has spent enough time on professional courts to know quickly whether something feels useful or distracting.
His first reaction to Sportbot was short: “It’s cool.” He then helped prepare it and started hitting.
Fred watched the machine, helped set it up, loaded balls and tried it for himself. The tournament session became the start of a collaboration and a first look at what we can create together.
What stayed with us after Ljubljana
Once the hitting started, the footage became about the player and the next ball. Sportbot was simply part of the session. That is the role we want it to have.
Fred’s involvement also changed the quality of the conversation. Our team and an experienced professional player had the same on-court session to refer to. The next discussion could begin from something everyone had seen.
For a hardware team, that shared reference is valuable. We can return to the footage, look at how people handled the machine and use those observations in future product work.
Sportbot can move around the court while it feeds. The Sportbot tennis ball launcher page shows the product in more detail. In Ljubljana, the machine joined the session and players used it during the tournament week.
What the Ljubljana event tells us
The tournament showed Sportbot being used during a professional event week. It also gave us direct feedback and the beginning of a relationship with a former top-100 player.
The evidence is practical. We observed how the machine was used and recorded the session. We did not measure changes in performance, fitness or match results. Those questions require a controlled study. Ljubljana gave us a documented example of the product in the hands of the people it was built for.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Fred Gil?
Fred Gil is a Portuguese former professional tennis player. His official ATP record lists a career-high singles ranking of world No. 62.
Did Fred Gil use Sportbot in Ljubljana?
Yes. Fred tested Sportbot during the UTR tournament, helped prepare the machine and hit balls from it. The session became the start of a collaboration with Sportbot.
Can Sportbot be used during a tournament week?
Players used Sportbot for warm-ups and training between matches in Ljubljana. The event showed practical use during a tournament, but it did not measure changes in player performance.
How is Sportbot different from a standard tennis ball machine?
Sportbot can move around the court while it feeds balls. This means the feed does not always come from one fixed place.
See the Sportbot Fred Gil tested
Explore the Sportbot tennis ball launcher, learn more about the team building it, or read the latest Sportbot field stories.
Sources: UTR Sports Pro Tennis Tour calendar; official ATP player record for Fred Gil; Sportbot’s owned event photo and video.
