Four tennis balls were launched into space to celebrate the start of the grass court season. Lexus developed bespoke aerospace technology to send the balls 33,500 metres above the Earth.
Space Capsule and Balloon Technology
The custom-engineered capsule, lifted by a stratospheric hydrogen balloon, carried the cargo to the edge of space to celebrate the start of the 2026 tennis season. The balls were then returned to earth and transported in a Lexus NX SUV to the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
Alfie Hewett Serves the Space Ball
At the National Tennis Centre, one of the balls was served by Alfie Hewett, the world number one men's wheelchair doubles tennis champion. Hewett commented: "I've started many seasons throughout my career, but serving with a ball that has just returned from space is an incredible first. As players, we're constantly pushing boundaries and looking for that extra edge, so kicking off the summer with this unprecedented first serve was the perfect way to set the tone for the season ahead."
Lexus Partnership and Innovation
Chris Hayes, director of Lexus in the UK, said: "To mark the start of the tennis season, we wanted to push the boundaries of technical innovation." Lexus is the Platinum Partner and Official Automotive Partner of the ATP Tour, Official Automotive Partner of the LTA, and partner to Sky Tennis, sponsoring 12 ATP tournaments across Europe this year.
