IBM's AI App Enhances US Open Tennis Experience

Technology is increasingly taking center court in professional sports, with athletes and fans alike turning to data and AI to deepen their understanding and engagement. This year's US Open is no exception, featuring a new app developed by IBM that aims to transform the way the game is analyzed and experienced. Jonathan Adashek, IBM Senior Vice President, and retired American tennis pro Sam Querrey discussed the app's capabilities, highlighting how it goes beyond traditional statistics to offer a more nuanced view of the matches.

A New Era of Tennis Analytics

IBM's partnership with the US Open, now in its 35th year, has seen a continuous evolution of technology integration. The latest app boasts several new features designed to provide a more responsive and engaging experience for users. Jonathan Adashek explained that the app's homepage offers immediate, personalized updates, eliminating the need for extensive navigation.

'Serve Quality' and Data-Driven Coaching

A standout feature is the 'serve quality' metric. Unlike traditional speed measurements, this AI-powered analysis breaks down a serve into 21 different data points, examining limb and racket movements to generate a comprehensive score. Adashek noted that this provides a more holistic view of a player's performance, indicating whether they are "hot" or "cold" on a given serve, rather than just focusing on velocity.

The full discussion can be found on Bloomberg Podcast's YouTube channel.

Sam Querrey, a former pro known for his powerful serve, commented on the growing prevalence of data in sports. He stated, "The data has gotten so much more aggressive for all athletes in the last couple years." Querrey sees significant value in the app for coaches, allowing them to distill complex data into actionable insights for their players. "As a player, I can't think about 15 to 20 different things if I'm returning or serving. That's where the coach comes in. If there's data that they can look at that's obvious, they can then give that to the player, and the player can kind of go with those three or four bullet points."

Enhancing Fan Engagement and Match Storytelling

Beyond individual performance metrics, the IBM app introduces a 'match chat' feature, building on last year's capabilities. This allows for natural language processing to answer user questions, now enhanced with the integration of photos and videos for a richer interactive experience. Furthermore, the 'key moments' feature aims to provide a deeper narrative of the match.

Adashek elaborated on this, explaining that these moments go beyond simply noting set wins. "It's looking at how long was a rally. Did a player get an ace to win a set? What are these moments, those more subtle moments to give a better storyline to pull through so people can understand more of how the tide is changing in the match?" This approach helps fans connect more deeply with the ebb and flow of the competition.

The Future of Sports Data

Querrey acknowledged the sheer volume of data now available, suggesting that while players might not pore over every data point, coaches can use it to their advantage. He also reflected on the perceived loss of "naturalness" with automated systems, such as line calls. However, he countered that in high-stakes professional tennis, precision is paramount. "The winner of the US Open this year, they just put out yesterday, gets $5,500,000. You can't miss a line call by a few inches when there's that much money on the line."

Adashek added that the app's utility extends beyond the immediate match. Players can review past performances of opponents, analyzing key moments, serve quality, and strategic patterns to prepare for future matchups. For fans, features like dynamic "likelihood to win" predictions, which update with every point, offer a more engaging way to follow the action, even if they can only watch intermittently.

The conversation also touched on the unique atmosphere of the US Open, particularly the night matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium, which Querrey likened to a "college football event in the South" due to their sheer energy. Adashek echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the ability of the app to bring that energy to millions globally, whether they are at the venue or watching from home.