IBM and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) have announced a suite of new AI-powered digital experiences for the 2025 US Open, set to run from Monday, August 18, through to September 7.
Co-created by IBM and the USTA, the new features will debut on USOpen.org and the US Open app, delivering millions of fans worldwide deeper insights, interactive tools, and real-time match coverage throughout the two-week Grand Slam.
Match Chat: AI-powered conversations
At the forefront is Match Chat, an interactive AI assistant available during and after all 254 singles matches. Fans can ask questions — via pre-written prompts or custom queries — on topics such as player stats, head-to-head records, match insights, or even correct player name pronunciations. For example, users can ask: “Who has converted more break points in the match?”
The tool is built with IBM watsonx Orchestrate technologies, including AI agents and IBM Granite large language models (LLMs), trained on the US Open’s editorial style and powered by real-time tournament data.
AI-enhanced SlamTracker & commentary
An upgraded version of IBM SlamTracker will provide fans with Likelihood to Win probabilities in near real-time for every singles match, factoring in player statistics, expert opinion, and match momentum.
Meanwhile, AI Commentary returns this year, offering automatically generated audio and subtitles in English for highlight videos of men’s and women’s singles matches, helping fans catch up quickly on key moments.
Key Points
Also new this year is Key Points, built with watsonx, which provides concise three-bullet summaries of articles, tournament data, and match analysis. With one click, fans can get a “TL;DR” recap, making it easier to follow the latest action and insights.
Growing fan demand for AI
The innovations arrive as sports fans increasingly seek personalized, real-time digital content. According to a new global survey by Morning Consult, commissioned by IBM, 86% of tennis fans worldwide see value in AI-powered features, with real-time insights and highlights cited as key engagement drivers.
“As fan engagement and content consumption habits evolve, IBM and the USTA are at the cutting edge – leveraging data and AI to create unique digital experiences that bring the excitement of the US Open to life for audiences around the world,” said IBM senior vice president, Marketing and Communications Jonathan Adashek.
“Working with IBM, we developed a long-term technology roadmap that has transformed how we operate and connect with fans,” added USTA sr. director of Digital Strategy Brian Ryerson. “Today, those efforts are paying off — delivering real-time insights that enrich the fan experience while improving the reliability, scalability, and efficiency of our digital platforms and behind-the-scenes operations.”
