MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Australian Open has named Pongbot its Official Ball Machine. The partnership also names Pongbot Official Ball Machine Supplier of the National Tennis Academy.
The multi-year agreement brings together AI-powered training technology and fan engagement at the Australian Open 2027 (AO27). It connects Pongbot with one of tennis's four Grand Slam tournaments and will support the next generation of athletes within the performance pathway.
"We're proud to partner with the Australian Open, united by a belief that innovation should help more people enjoy tennis and improve their game. Through AI Coach, we aim to change the way players train and help them turn sustained effort into meaningful progress. That ambition is at the heart of this partnership," Pongbot CEO Haibo Zhang said.
Pongbot specializes in AI-powered training equipment and intelligent robotics and under the agreement, its products, including AI Coach, will support high-performance training and consistent repetition, data collection and performance analysis.
Pongbot's plans include an Australian Open co-branded ball machine that combines the tournament's identity with its training technology. Its design features Australian Open and Pongbot branding on the machine body and ball hopper.
"The Australian Open has built a reputation as one of the most innovative events in world sport, constantly looking for new ways to elevate the fan experience and support the development of players," Tennis Australia's Chief Commercial Officer Cedric Cornelis said.
"Pongbot's AI-driven training technology brings a fresh perspective to the sport, helping redefine how athletes train and how people engage with racquet sports. We're excited to work together to bring these innovations to the Australian Open and inspire the next generation of players at our National Tennis Academy."
The agreement supports Pongbot's international growth ambitions by connecting its technology with players, coaches and fans through the Australian Open.
As the Australian Open continues to expand its position as a global leader in sport, entertainment and technology, the partnership with PongBot demonstrates a shared vision to make tennis training more accessible, engaging and innovative.
About Pongbot
Founded in 2019, Pongbot is a Chinese sports technology company specializing in AI-powered training equipment and intelligent robotics. Its products, including AI Coach, support both high-performance training and everyday sport.
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Pongbot joins Australian Open as Official Ball Machine
BERLIN, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At IFA 2026 in Berlin, visitors encountered the usual showcase of processors, displays, connected devices and technical specifications. But at the Metapen booth, the emphasis was less on watching technology and more on using it.
The approach reflects a broader change in consumer electronics. As products become more sophisticated, specifications alone do not always communicate their value. For many consumers, the first few seconds of using a product can be more revealing than a presentation.
A stylus is a good example. Its physical form is familiar, but its applications extend beyond traditional writing. Children can draw and explore digital creativity; students can take notes and annotate documents; professionals can sketch ideas, sign documents or work directly on a tablet.
At Metapen's IFA booth, one young visitor provided a simple illustration. A girl picked up a stylus and began interacting with the screen while her family watched nearby. There was no complicated explanation required. She simply started creating.
That interaction highlights an important principle in product design: technology does not always need to demand attention. When a stylus responds naturally, users can focus on what they want to write, draw or create rather than on how technology works.
Metapen has built its business around the stylus category, developing products for devices including iPad, Surface and Chromebook. Its lineup covers everyday digital writing as well as pressure-sensitive applications for drawing and creative work. The company focuses on making digital writing and creation more accessible through functionality, design and affordability.
This positioning reflects how the stylus market is evolving. Rather than treating a pen simply as an accessory to a tablet, Metapen presents it as part of the user experience—the point where hardware, software and human creativity meet.
The opportunity goes beyond the stylus. As digital learning, work and creative activities become part of everyday life, products that make technology feel more natural can play an increasingly important role.
IFA remains a place for companies to demonstrate technical innovation. But moments like the one at Metapen's booth suggest another way of evaluating technology: not only by what is inside a product, but by what happens when someone picks it up for the first time.
Sometimes, the most convincing product demonstration is simply watching someone use it—and enjoy the experience.
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More Than a Stylus: How Hands-On Experiences Are Changing the Way Consumer Electronics Are Presented
