International Business Machines Corporation IBM is introducing a new set of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered experiences for the 2026 US Open. The innovations developed in association with the United States Tennis Association (“USTA”) are designed to make live tennis more personalized, informative and interactive for millions of fans worldwide.
IBM’s latest Live Updates homepage will allow fans to prioritize their favorite players and quickly access relevant matches, stories and analysis. It introduces Serve Quality, an AI-powered metric that analyzes serving mechanics across all 254 singles matches. Using IBM Bob’s limb-tracking technology, the system tracks 21 data points across a player’s body and racquet at 50 times per second, capturing factors such as wrist movement, accuracy, consistency and energy transfer.
The company is also enhancing its Likelihood to Win feature with Key Moments, which explains the turning points and momentum shifts that influence a match. In addition, the upgraded Match Chat, powered by IBM watsonx Orchestrate, will enable fans to ask questions in natural language and receive conversational answers based on live match data, historical statistics and analysis. Some responses will also include relevant photos and video.
These capabilities demonstrate IBM’s ability to combine AI, data infrastructure and intelligent agents to reshape sports engagement. By turning complex court-level data into accessible insights, the company is helping fans gain a deeper understanding of the game through advanced technology.
How Are Competitors Advancing in Sports Technology?
IBM faces competition from Microsoft Corporation MSFT and Alphabet Inc. GOOGL. Microsoft is expanding its sports technology efforts by using AI and cloud technologies to analyze player and game data. Its solutions help teams and coaches gain real-time insights into player performance and make faster decisions. Microsoft is expanding its sports technology presence through partnerships with major leagues like the National Basketball Association.
Alphabet is expanding its sports technology through Google Cloud and AI to improve fan experiences and sports broadcasting. Alphabet is using its Gemini AI and Google Cloud technologies to power Major League Baseball Scout Insights, helping deliver real-time game analysis and insights to fans. Google Cloud is also working with FOX Sports on AI tools that help broadcasters deliver faster statistics and analysis during games.
