The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and IBM have unveiled a new suite of AI-powered digital tools for the 2025 US Open, set to enhance the fan experience both on-site and at home. The innovations, co-created by the two long-standing partners, are designed to deliver real-time, personalized insights to millions of tennis fans worldwide through the official US Open website and mobile app.
At the heart of the new offerings is “Match Chat,” an interactive AI assistant available for all 254 singles matches. Built with IBM’s watsonx Orchestrate technologies, this tool allows fans to ask questions about player stats, head-to-head records, match insights, and even player name pronunciations. The AI assistant is trained on the US Open’s editorial style, leveraging live tournament data to provide accurate and insightful responses.
The partnership also introduces an upgraded version of IBM SlamTracker, now featuring live Likelihood to Win projections. This enhanced feature uses AI to analyze real-time player statistics, expert commentary, and match momentum to provide dynamically updating win probabilities, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
For those looking to catch up quickly, the new “Key Points” feature provides a “TL;DR” recap of articles, tournament data, and match analysis. This tool, also built with watsonx, summarizes lengthy content into concise, three-bullet points, making it easier for fans to stay informed without missing a beat. Additionally, AI Commentary, a fan favorite, returns with AI-generated audio and subtitles for highlight videos of men’s and women’s singles matches, ensuring fans can quickly get up to speed on the action.
These innovations arrive at a time when a new global survey, commissioned by IBM, reveals a strong demand for AI-powered experiences among sports fans. The study found that 86% of tennis fans see value in AI-driven features, with real-time insights and personalized highlights being key drivers of engagement. “As fan engagement and content consumption habits evolve, IBM and the USTA are at the cutting edge,” said Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at IBM. “We’re leveraging data and AI to create unique digital experiences that bring the excitement of the US Open to life.” The 2025 US Open runs from August 18 to September 7.
