French Open and Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal found a novel way to zip around the Olympic Tennis Centre when he commandeered a space-age personal transporter.

The Spaniard was spotted riding a Segway, which resembles a pogo stick on wheels, around the maze of corridors beneath Centre Court as volunteers looked on in amazement. More than 100 of the battery operated zero-emission vehicles are being used around Beijing’s sports venues during the Games.

Nadal, one of the best movers on the tennis circuit, soon got to grips with his new set of wheels which operate by tilting the body backwards and forwards and leaning from side to side.

His opponents during the tennis event will be hoping Nadal slows down by the time he gets on court.