Ever heard of an aquatic ace? How about a tennis match on the water? That sounds impossible, but it's not, as these images and video of Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams prove.
On March 254, the world's first tennis game on water was held on the surface of Miami's Hotel Gansevoort swimming pool. Spanish tennis pro Nadal from Spain and American Williams held the aqua rally to kick off the Sony Ericsson Open in South Beach.
"This was a once in a lifetime chance to play tennis on water," Serena Williams said. "And it was a new challenge to play against Rafael. Especially since he volunteered to play at the deep end!"
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Water Sports Innovation
- The combination of popular sports like tennis with aquatic environments can lead to a whole new industry of water sports and equipment.
- Exotic Event Marketing
- Outdoor events that take unorthodox approaches will attract a new demographic and audience, bringing in new business opportunities for brands.
- Virtual Reality Entertainment
- With the use of immersive technology, realistic simulations of sporting events like tennis on water could create a new genre of entertainment and gaming.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Sports Equipment Manufacturing
- Creating specialized equipment for water sport activities like tennis on water can open up new business avenues for equipment manufacturers.
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Innovative outdoor events like this not only bring in new clientele for hotels and resorts, but also create marketing opportunities to attract more visitors to the area.
- Entertainment and Media
- The integration of immersive technology in sports entertainment events can create new forms of digital media for which brands can advertise and draw in a new audience.
