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Alfie Hewett delivers the first ever serve with tennis balls sent from space. To celebrate the 2026 summer tennis season, Lexus has delivered the ultimate opening shot, applying bespoke aerospace technology to launch tennis balls into space for a first serve like no other.

In a spectacular demonstration of precision and excitement, the luxury automotive brand sent a custom-engineered capsule thousands of miles up to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere.
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Lifted to the edge of space by a stratospheric hydrogen balloon, the capsule ascended to 110,000 feet (33,528 metres) above the Earth's surface. Cruising far above the Armstrong Limit, the flight peaked above 99.5% of Earth’s atmosphere where pressure is just 0.7% of that at sea level. Framed by the blackness of space and the Earth's curvature, the tennis balls endured near-vacuum conditions before descending.

But the journey doesn’t end in the sky. Safely back on solid ground, the balls were transported by a Lexus NX SUV to the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. The film flashes focus to the court where Alfie Hewett OBE, Great Britain and World number one men’s wheelchair doubles tennis player prepares to unleash a flawless first serve.

Alfie Hewett said: “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.”

The campaign comes as Lexus supports another year of thrilling competition as Platinum Partner and Official Automotive Partner of the ATP Tour and Official Automotive Partner of the LTA, alongside its partnership with Sky Tennis. Lexus is a sponsor of 12 ATP tournaments across Europe in the 2026 season including the prestigious ATP 1000 Rolex Paris Masters in October and the climax of the competition year, the Nitto ATP Finals.

Chris Hayes, Director of Lexus in the UK, said: “At Lexus, our commitment to precision engineering and creating amazing experiences is at the core of everything we do. To mark the start of the tennis season, we wanted to push the boundaries of technical innovation. By engineering a bespoke capsule, capable of navigating the edge of space and returning to Earth with millimetre accuracy, we mirrored the craftsmanship that defines both professional tennis and the Lexus brand. We are proud to champion game-changers who constantly redefine what is possible both on and off the court.”

The pioneering launch event was executed by Sent-into-Space, a world-leading high-altitude marketing and research agency.

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