Tennis, Culture and the Sound of Performance
Every spring, the BMW Open returns to Munich and brings together international tennis, local culture and a community that appreciates both. The tournament has a long history that can be traced back to the International Tennis Championships of Bavaria, an event that has taken place every year since 1900 and has been hosted at MTTC Iphitos in Munich since 1974.
In 2026, the event takes place once again, from the 11th to the 19th of April, and the lineup includes players such as Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.
High Culture, Pop Culture and the Space Between
The rules and dress codes of tennis can be seen as an expression of high culture. However, tennis also finds its way into popular culture through artists, fashion designers and performers. We will never forget the moment when, during Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime performance of ‘Not Like Us, the camera turned to Serena Williams crip walking.
Social media is filled with Naomi Osaka’s tennis fits, which have changed how tennis athleisure is viewed by blending it with her own fashion sense and the messages in her custom-made outfits or Zendaya’s looks (including tennis balls attached to her heels) during the promo for the movie Challengers. Court meets couture and culture.
The music video for ‘Hello’ by Martin Solveig and Dragonette uses tennis as a playful narrative device. It has become a cultural milestone of the early 2010s, racking up more than 133 million views on YouTube. Roger Federer’s trick-shot video, filmed as behind-the-scenes footage while shooting a Gillette commercial, also went viral in the same year. It became the most-viewed video on YouTube in the week of its release and surpassed seven million views.
Through this blend of cultural references, tennis becomes a symbolic space. It is sophisticated, expressive, traditional and contemporary. It demands physical discipline whilst offering scope for creative freedom.
The Sound of Tennis
At a tournament like the BMW Open, the cultural depth of tennis becomes apparent. The location near the English Garden creates a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere, but as soon as the matches begin, the surroundings transform into a space of mounting intensity. Sound plays a key role in this transformation.
During the matches, the soundtrack is minimalist. It consists of the thud of the ball, footsteps on clay and the guttural sounds of the players. These elements form a natural composition that instinctively pulls in the audience. During changeovers and transitions, music returns to entertain and involve the spectators. It shapes emotions, builds anticipation and reinforces the identity of the event.
A carefully selected track can heighten concentration, intensify the tension or reinforce the sense of relief following a decisive point. Music, sound and movement interact to create a narrative.
The Power of Pregame Music
It’s not just the music playing in the speakers around the court that sets the mood. Every player has their own song choices for the pregame period to get themselves mentally prepared for the match. And there is scientific evidence behind it.
Research has shown that the music chosen by an athlete before a match can influence their performance, acting like a “type of legal performance-enhancing drug” that can determine the mood in which the listener approaches the game. Coco Gauff said she prefers gospel music when she’s nervous, as it calms her down. Ben Shelton, the world number 9 in singles, uses his pre-match music to boost his energy and get his mind in the right place for the match, especially when he’s not feeling at his best.
Although the link between music and performance has been studied for decades, so far, research has focused primarily on the influence of music during the actual performance. Just as music can enhance performance and mood, it can also have the opposite effect and limit them.
Why the BMW Open Matters in Cultural Terms
The BMW Open presents tennis in a way that reflects its broader cultural history. It combines a respected tradition with a modern urban setting. It welcomes a diverse audience that enjoys sport but also appreciates the built atmosphere around it. The event becomes a place where community, tradition and culture meet.
Players contribute to this cultural dimension. They express personality through ritual, through fashion choices and through the music they use during preparation. Their presence on social media also extends the court into a digital stage.
Sonoton explores these cultural layers through curated music. To understand this connection, one should bear in mind that tennis is culturally relevant not only because of its sporting achievements, but also because it offers a wide range of meanings. In this context, music helps to shed light on the diverse meanings of the sport of tennis and adds a dimension that the audience senses, even if not always consciously.