Every summer, London’s Wimbledon suburb becomes the epicenter of world tennis. But last year, the celebration took on an unexpected artistic twist when Indian luxury rug maker Jaipur Rugs unveiled an extraordinary creative project: a full tennis court constructed entirely from 93 hand-knotted rugs.
The campaign, titled “The Court of Carpets,” reinterpreted the traditional Wimbledon lawn using antique rugs meticulously stacked and arranged to match the exact dimensions of a regulation tennis court. Each rug featured intricate motifs and rich color palettes, with a signature misty green hue evoking the iconic Wimbledon grass. To complete the immersive spectacle, Jaipur Rugs artisans crafted the tennis net and four rackets from bamboo silk, while producing around 120 handcrafted wool tennis balls.
A Court Built to Be Played On
More than a visual installation, the carpeted court became a functioning sports arena. India’s top tennis player Rohan Bopanna played several exhibition matches on the textile surface as part of his partnership with Jaipur Rugs. His opponents were four master women artisans from the village of Manpura, who trained for weeks to take part in the event. Wearing traditional sarees, the artisans took to the court, creating a striking contrast between heritage craft and contemporary sport.
The project highlighted parallels between weaving and tennis—precision, agility, discipline, and years of refinement.
“Every beautiful thing takes hard work,” said artisan Lalita Kumari. “We are not just masters of weaving but have also mastered the game of tennis.”
An Artistic Tribute to Craft and Culture
Jaipur Rugs described the installation as more than a creative stunt:
“The Court of Carpets is more than just a spectacular, layered tennis lawn. Witty details were woven especially by Jaipur Rugs artisans, from the hand-knotted net that falls with visible softness, to the neon balls of yarn with bamboo silk outlines used as tennis balls.”
Founded in 1978 by NK Chaudhary, Jaipur Rugs has grown into one of India’s leading exporters of hand-knotted carpets, working directly with rural artisans and supplying products to more than 60 global markets.
The Court of Carpets was conceived to celebrate the brand’s London showroom during the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, merging craftsmanship, sport, and cultural storytelling in a way the design world had never seen before.
