If you’ve ever tried to get back into a sport you were halfway decent at in school, you’ll know the soul-crushing reality of muscle memory giving you the middle finger. It’s a reality I’ve found myself living in – once a fairly capable tennis player, now dodging serves. Unfortunately, I missed seeing the device at IFA 2025, so when I was offered the chance to play against Acemate’s Tennis Robot at CES 2026, I had to give it a try.
- Read more: The 10 best tennis video games ever made to play during Wimbledon (and after)
Acemate’s machine isn’t just a ball-spitting tripod. It’s the world’s first AI tennis robot built for real rally play. Instead of just lobbing balls at you, it tracks your shots with dual 4K binocular cameras, moves across the court like it’s on rollerblades, and fires balls back at you with spin, precision, and the kind of accuracy you’d expect from an evenly matched opponent.
On paper, it all sounds rather clever – tracking your form, calculating your shot patterns, generating heat maps, and dishing out in-session coaching. But after one afternoon on court with it, something clicked. It was like hitting with a partner who never misses, never gets tired, and never judges you. Or at least never tells you if it does.
Within minutes, it was picking apart my weak cross-court backhands and lobbing returns I could actually learn from. By the end of the session, I wasn’t just getting the ball over the net again. I was placing it with purpose, anticipating returns, and finally finding that rhythm I’d lost ages ago.
What really made the difference was the rally mode. This thing returns, adapts, and punishes weak footwork. I found myself instinctively adjusting to faster balls, bettering my timing, and sweating by the end of it. The catch net and soft return system meant no cracked rackets.
The data breakdowns helped too. Acemate’s app slapped together charts, shot zones, and even replay videos with just enough detail to let me tweak my stance. If you own one, Apple Watch integration is a nice touch. Your heart rate stats can sync up mid-rally to throw your fitness levels into the mix.
If you’re keen to get one, the Acemate robot is available for pre-order now. It starts at $2499/£2599/€2599 for the basic kit (which includes the robot, charger, and a single battery). If you’re fancy or just want extra court time, the premium kit with two battery packs will run you $2899/£2599/€2999.
- Related: 101 gadgets: Stuff’s pick of brilliant sports tech to help you smash your PB in 2025
