The Australian Open, a tournament that tennis fans are waiting for with bated breath, started in Melbourne on January 12, 2025. The best players in the world gather there to compete for the most prestigious titles. But what is hidden behind their perfect shape and honed strokes?
A player’s effectiveness on the field is no longer measured by the hours spent on the court. Virtual reality technologies are completely changing the approach to training. VR and AR open up new possibilities for analysis and development of tactics, and the technology of digital modeling of DNA avatars from Holiverse under the direction of Lado Okhotnikov makes training athletes almost science fiction. Let’s figure out how it works and why it is technology that determines the future of sports.
History of the Australian Open tennis tournament
The Australian Open tennis tournament appeared in Australia in the 19th century. And it all thanks to the British settlers who brought this game with them. Gradually, tennis became popular among local residents, and in 1905, the first competition was held. Today, this tournament attracts world tennis stars and gathers millions of spectators on the courts of Melbourne Park. But few people know what amount of athletes’ work is behind this sport.
To demonstrate their best, players need to undergo serious training. It includes five important areas.
- Physical fitness. CrossFit, running, plyometrics and stretching will help strengthen the body and develop endurance.
- Hitting, serving, and spinning the ball are improved through daily training.
- Tactics and strategy. Analyzing your opponents’ games and adapting their styles allows you to win even tough matches.
- Meditation and working with a psychologist teach you to stay calm and focused even in stressful situations.
- Recovery and nutrition. A balanced diet, adequate hydration, and massage maintain health and speed up recovery.
AR and VR technologies in athletes’ training
WHOOP measures indicators that have been scientifically proven to have the most significant impact on health.
One of the most important parts of the training process is collecting biometric data from athletes. For example, the WHOOP Strap system is a wearable device that collects biometric data from an athlete: heart rate, body temperature, sleep quality. The system analyzes the information received and provides recommendations for recovery and optimizes training.
Similar AI devices are widely used by professional athletes from the NBA and NFL to monitor their physical condition.
But virtual reality technologies are used to create simulators and training devices for training in any places accessible to the athlete. Such devices include OmniPad, a training device that simulates walking or running in virtual space.
With the help of OmniPad, athletes can train in various conditions without leaving the premises. The training device is used to improve endurance and coordination, especially in running sports, as well as for rehabilitation after injuries.
How Roblox and Holiverse metaverses help athletes
Metaverses have already found application in the sports industry. They are actively used to create virtual stadiums, where fans can watch matches while staying at home and participate in competitions with their idols. One of the striking examples of the use of the metaverse in sports is the AO Adventure project.
AO Adventure by Roblox
AO Adventure is a virtual space created within the Roblox platform in 2023. It is an interactive version of the Australian Open tennis championship. Users are immersed in the atmosphere of the tournament, complete various tasks, can interact with the avatar of famous tennis player Nick Kyrgios and even take part in competitions.
In the AO Adventure environment, users can explore the virtual Melbourne Park, where the real tournament is taking place, visit souvenir shops and learn about the history of these competitions. This integration of the real and digital worlds attracts an even larger audience to the sporting event, making it exciting and accessible to everyone.
Such projects demonstrate how the metaverse can unite fans and athletes, creating new forms of interaction between sports and entertainment. However, professional players require different solutions.
Holiverse Metaverse by Lado Okhotnikov
Partizan 3×3 Holiverse Basketball Team in Hong Kong at the 2024 FIBA 3×3 World Tour Finals.
The Holiverse metaverse is the general sponsor of the Serbian Partizan 3×3 basketball team. Holiverse CEO Lado Okhotnikov knows how important training, proper nutrition and a sports regimen are. In the metaverse he created, a technology for digital avatars based on human DNA is being developed. This project combines virtual reality technologies with personalized medicine and genetics.
The director of this scientific project, Dr. Chebanov, a specialist in genetics and decoding of the human DNA, described the work on genes as very important in relation to athletic achievements. He gave a simple example:
“Imagine that you live in a metaworld where your avatar reflects you exactly the way you are. How is this possible? With an at-home DNA test, you transmit your genetic data to the system, and then artificial intelligence processes it and creates your digital image. You will use it to see how this or that action will affect the body. Based on the information, you will be given individual advice on proper nutrition, physical activity and other important health aspects.”
For athletes, such technology is an indispensable assistant, solving key problems of training and staying in shape. It helps:
- create personal training plans;
- optimize nutrition and vitamin intake — so that results increase, and recovery from exercise is faster;
- predict the risks of injury and illness;
- simulate the effects of drugs and treatments;
- provide feedback in real time — your avatar records current indicators and helps to avoid overloads, adjusting the load on the go.
- offer psychological support — if there is a tendency to stress or anxiety, the system will suggest suitable exercises and practices.
The use of this technology opens up huge prospects for professional sports and will allow athletes to achieve maximum results while maintaining health and longevity.
Virtual reality from Sense Arena
A platform for training important skills of hockey players on the ice anytime and anywhere in VR.
Sense Arena, the leader in VR training for hockey, has entered into an agreement with the NHL. They presented the NHL Sense Arena program — a unique virtual reality platform for hockey players.
Developed back in 2018, improved for the current tasks of athletes, the platform offers players a variety of tasks and exercises to help improve their skills on the ice. Many professional teams, including the LA Kings and New Jersey Devils, are already using Sense Arena to improve their game.
Plans for 2025
Metaverses are still in the active development stage, but their potential for training athletes is already enormous. Today, virtual reality and artificial intelligence are being actively introduced into training processes, providing a new level of efficiency and accuracy. In the near future, these technologies will become indispensable tools for achieving high results in professional sports.
