Now that the 2025 US Open is freshly in the books, it reminded us of a truth about sport: progress isn’t confined to the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Yes, the Open dazzled with AI-powered broadcast graphics, real-time Hawk-Eye line calls, and a new 15-day format that welcomed 70,000 extra fans. But the next era of racket sports isn’t just shaped under the spotlight—it’s being built quietly on community courts around the world.
That’s where Wingfield comes in.
The German sports tech startup—one of LEAD’s earliest investments—is redefining what “AI Courts” mean for tennis, pickleball, and padel. Their net-post device delivers pro-level video, analytics, and gamified training to schools, clubs, and rec centers—making insights once reserved for elite pros available to everyone.
The Orlando Conversation
Back in March at the LEAD Summit in Orlando, I approached Jaan Brunken, COO & Co-Founder of Wingfield, to grab a quick soundbite for our highlight reel. Just a handshake, a line to camera, then back to production.
What I got instead was a conversation I’m still thinking about.
Jaan began by praising the Summit—how it felt founder-first in a way most events don’t. But minutes in, he shifted. We started talking about what happens when new technology meets everyday barriers in sport.
As someone who’s worked in tennis during the height of the pickleball boom, I was hooked. Jaan described how, on the pro tour, performance data and video analysis were everywhere. But for amateurs? Recreational players? Pickleball enthusiasts at the local park?
“It was all locked behind the gate,” he said.“We knew that if we could bring that level of insight to everyday racket sports players, it would completely change how they trained—and how they saw themselves.”
That wasn’t a product pitch. It was a purpose.
Wingfield’s New AI Milestone in Pickleball
That conversation feels even more relevant now. Wingfield just announced a landmark partnership with The Picklr, DUPR, and DUPR Coach—launching the sport’s first end-to-end, AI-powered pathway for player development in pickleball.
Players begin with a standardized, AI-analyzed assessment that measures core skills like serve, return, volley, and dink. Coaches then layer human insight on top of the data, creating a transparent skill profile that removes the guesswork.
For the first time, those assessments roll directly into official DUPR ratings—not just for initial placement, but for competitive play. Every verified match on a Wingfield-enabled court now automatically updates a player’s DUPR.
The impact? Walk into a Picklr club, complete your first AI assessment, and immediately start building a verified rating that reflects both training and competition.
This isn’t just technology—it’s infrastructure. By making AI Courts the standard for pickleball development, Wingfield is setting the benchmark for how emerging sports can grow with fairness, precision, and excitement.
AI Courts for Every Racket Sport
Wingfield’s Tech-enabled courts transform any court into a training ground with:
- Tennis → Match footage, serve speeds, rally analytics, verified tournament validation
- Pickleball → Gamified drills, highlight creation, performance tracking, and now DUPR integration
- Padel & beyond → The same infrastructure applies, because Wingfield isn’t tied to one game, but to the entire racket ecosystem
Already installed on 1,000+ courts across 500+ locations, Wingfield is serving more than 80,000 players worldwide. And with its U.S. expansion through Har-Tru, the country’s leading court builder, the next wave of AI Courts could be just down the street—from high schools and college programs to rec centers and neighborhood clubs.
The US Open Connection
The Open has always been more than matches—it’s where tradition meets transformation. From the tiebreak in 1970, to equal prize money in 1973, Hawk-Eye in 2006, and the roof over Arthur Ashe in 2016—the tournament has consistently set new standards.
Each change reshaped the sport. And just as the Open raised the bar at the professional level, Wingfield is doing the same for players everywhere else.
From Hamburg to Flushing Meadows
When I think back to my conversation with Jaan, what struck me most wasn’t the technology—it was the philosophy.
“We’re not just digitizing courts,” Jaan told me in Orlando. “We’re reimagining what’s possible when every player—tennis, pickleball, or padel—has access to the tools the pros take for granted.”
That belief connects Wingfield’s journey from Hamburg to Har-Tru, from European federations to U.S. schools, from everyday players to the spectacle of Flushing Meadows.
Charting the Future of Racket Sports
The US Open showcased progress at the highest level. Wingfield is democratizing it at the local level. Together, they tell the story of where racket sports are headed. Tech-enabled courts are here to stay.
They’re not just tracking serves and shots.
They’re charting the future of racket sports—one court at a time.
Let’s Talk
Building something that bridges access, ambition, and analytics? We’re listening. Pitch us at dealflow@lead.vc or tag us @LEAD_vc on any of your favorite social media platforms.
