In a groundbreaking development for the world of tennis, the ATP and ATP Media have successfully conducted an experimental trial in partnership with Sports Data Labs (SDL) at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. This trial represents a pioneering step in the integration of real-time, medical-grade biometric sensors within a competitive tennis setting.
Shane Warden, Director of Broadcast and Technology at ATP Media, highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, “These are very early days in this field, and this groundbreaking trial focused on using a variety of third-party, high-resolution, medical-grade sensors on an elite athlete at a tournament to wirelessly transmit real-time biomechanical and biometric data directly to a single platform, achieving something that has never been done before.” He emphasized that while basic biometric and biomechanical data acquisition is not new, this test demonstrated the capability to transmit high-resolution, medical-grade measurements wirelessly in a challenging radio frequency environment. This success paves the way for further development of both the platform and next-generation sensors, in consultation with players and their teams.
The SDL platform stands out due to its ability to integrate directly with medical-grade sensors, bypassing their native software. This capability is built on the team’s extensive experience in creating complex and scalable technology platforms.
Mark Gorski, CEO of Sports Data Labs, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are excited to be supporting ATP Media and the ATP on their pioneering initiatives to unlock the value of biometric and biomechanical data for all stakeholders within the ATP tennis ecosystem.” He noted that advancements in data technologies are rapidly outpacing the ability of sports organizations to utilize them effectively. SDL’s agnostic and open approach allows organizations to adopt the best available technology and seamlessly integrate multiple third-party sensors through a single application.
Stuart Watts, COO of ATP Media, elaborated on the potential of this initiative, saying, “As part of our Big Data initiative in conjunction with the ATP, we believe the combination of biometrics and biomechanics with our other data such as Hawkeye ball and player tracking all synchronized with our video creates tremendous potential for unique and far-reaching services for players across development and performance as well as enhancing the drama of our broadcast.”
Moving forward, ATP and ATP Media plan to engage in a consultative process with players and their teams to establish a common set of measurements and derived insights. This initiative aims to optimize the use of medical-grade sensors, potentially leading to the standardization of biometric data measurement in sports.
Chris Kermode, ATP Executive Chairman & President, remarked on the importance of this initial step with Sports Data Labs, stating, “While we are still in an early developmental stage, we look forward to making further strides in this exciting area which has the potential to benefit player training and performance, as well as enriching the fan experience through enhanced data.”