IBM and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) unveiled groundbreaking AI-driven fan experiences for the 2025 US Open. These innovative digital features promise to transform how millions of tennis fans worldwide engage with the tournament.
The collaboration brings cutting-edge technology to USOpen.org and the official mobile app. Business leaders can observe how enterprise AI creates meaningful customer experiences at scale.
Match Chat Delivers Real-Time Tennis Intelligence
The centerpiece innovation is Match Chat, an interactive AI assistant operating during all 254 singles matches. Fans can ask questions about player statistics, head-to-head records, match insights, and even player name pronunciations.
Built with IBM watsonx Orchestrate technologies, Match Chat uses AI agents and large language models including IBM Granite. The system leverages real-time data while maintaining the US Open’s editorial style.
According to a Morning Consult survey commissioned by IBM, 86% of tennis fans worldwide see value in AI features. Real-time insights and personalized highlights drive their sports engagement.
Enhanced SlamTracker Predicts Match Outcomes
The enhanced IBM SlamTracker now offers live “Likelihood to Win” projections for every singles match. Win percentages update constantly based on player statistics, expert analysis, and match momentum.
Post-match, fans access AI-generated commentary with English subtitles on highlight videos. This feature deepens understanding of key moments and strategic plays.
Key Points Simplifies Information Consumption
The new Key Points feature creates three-bullet summaries of articles, tournament data, and match analysis. Users click one button to receive instant “TL:DR” recaps of tournament action.
This addresses modern fans’ need for quick, digestible information during fast-paced tournament coverage.
Strategic Technology Partnership Powers Growth
“IBM’s AI and cloud technologies deepen fan connections,” said Jonathan Adashek, IBM’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “We’re applying the same powerful technologies that we use with client partners across all industries to meet tennis fans’ demands.”
Brian Ryerson, Sr. Director of Digital Strategy at USTA, emphasized their strategic approach. “IBM took the time to understand our vision for the US Open. Together we identified the hybrid cloud and AI capabilities needed to bring it to life.”
Why It Matters Now for Business Leaders
This collaboration demonstrates how enterprises can harness AI and cloud computing for customer engagement. The USTA’s hybrid multicloud infrastructure manages traffic surges exceeding 5,000% during high-demand periods.
The platform achieves 99.999% uptime during tournament play. This reliability stems from automated infrastructure provisioning and real-time monitoring systems.
For enterprise leaders, this model shows how businesses can scale digital experiences efficiently. The USTA increased Match Report production by over 300% in 2024 using generative AI tools.
Digital Transformation Drives Fan Engagement
The US Open digital platform serves more than 14 million unique users annually. Each point played generates over 150 data points, creating 7 million data points throughout the tournament.
IBM watsonx.data manages this vast information landscape through a hybrid, open data lakehouse. The system supports AI workloads while improving model accuracy and insight delivery speed.
The tournament runs from August 18 to September 7, 2025. Fans can experience these innovations on USOpen.org and the mobile app available in Apple and Android app stores.
Strategic Advantage for Global Enterprises
This partnership sets new standards for sports and entertainment industries worldwide. The USTA model proves how strategic technology adoption creates competitive advantages through enhanced user experiences.
Businesses across sectors can apply similar approaches to transform customer relationships. The combination of hybrid cloud infrastructure, AI-driven insights, and automated operations delivers measurable results at scale.
