Film / Innovation / Social
Grand Slam champion, Emma Raducanu opens the TV spot, as she serves to British tennis’ break-through star Jack Draper. On return, we see the tennis ball morph into an animated Tennisable character called “Ace”.
Ace joins five colourful friends Slice, Spin, Dash, Smash – and Bounce who was born deaf and is voiced by actress, Rose Ayling-Ellis, known for her role in Eastenders and being the first deaf contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2021. Each character proudly showcases their own individual personality traits and tennis superpower.
Launching in 60-second and 30-second spots online and broadcast media on ITVX and Sky on 12 June, the characters will also feature in a 6-episode LTA YouTube content series designed to teach kids the basics of tennis, whether or not they own a racket or have access to a court. Each episode features an individual Tennisable, who demonstrates ways to develop a particular skill: speed, competitiveness, resilience, technique, brainpower… all whilst having fun.
An initial batch of 55,000 physical LTA Tennisables will be distributed to schoolchildren across the UK through the LTA’s school outreach programme, and the Tennisables have been on site at the LTA’s summer events.
