Club culture meets the game in riot of fluorescent light
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tennis is turning up the volume and turning off the lights. In a stark white building in downtown Miami, models strut about in outfits that glow under the black lights, a DJ spins club classics and tennis players blast backhand shots across the darkened court.
In an effort to attract a younger crowd to the sport, Sony Ericsson - which sponsors the WTA Tour and this week's tournament on Key Biscayne - has created a series of events simply called "Night Tennis", combining the game with fashion and club culture. The organisers said more than 10,000 people requested tickets.
Dee Dutta, a marketing executive with Sony Ericsson, said the company is not trying to completely change the game - simply to bring it to a new audience. "There is a need to get tennis to be at its rightful place - as the hippest, coolest sport that it used to be," he claimed.
The new night-time version - which was road-tested in Madrid last year - will be staged again next year in Asia. At the event in Miami fluorescent black lights illuminate players' white shirts and neon tape along the rackets' edges. Spectators see flashes of neon orange and green when the racket meets the ball.
Players serve underarm serves from a backcourt marked out in neon orange. To keep serving, a server must win the next point. Matches consist of three, three-minute games.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments