New AI Features Are Changing How Fans Watch the US Open

If you are watching the US Open tennis tournament this year, you will notice some new technology behind the scenes. IBM and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) are rolling out new artificial intelligence features on the US Open website and app to help fans better understand what is happening on the court.

Here is what you can expect to see during the 2026 tournament.

Tracking Every Movement On The Court

One of the most interesting additions is a new tool called the Serve Quality metric. It looks at the precise body mechanics of a player when they serve the ball.

The system uses advanced limb-tracking technology to monitor 21 different points across a player’s body and their racquet. It tracks these points 50 times every single second. This means it catches everything from how much a player flexes their wrist to how energy moves from their legs up through their torso. Over the course of the tournament, this will generate about 1.2 billion data points across all 254 singles matches.

The software processes all of this live data, including the player’s accuracy, consistency, and ball toss, and instantly generates a Serve Quality score. This gives fans a clear number to show exactly why a particular serve was so effective.

Understanding The Flow Of The Match

Another new feature focuses on predicting the outcome of a match in real time. The app already has a “Likelihood to Win” tool that uses current stats and momentum to predict who will come out on top. Now, they are adding a feature called “Key Moments.”

Key Moments takes the prediction a step further by explaining why the odds are shifting. It summarizes the turning points and momentum swings that change a match. So, instead of just seeing that a player’s chance of winning went up by 10%, you get a plain explanation of what they did to earn that advantage.

Talking Directly To The Data

IBM also updated the Match Chat feature. Think of it as an interactive companion while you watch. You can type questions in normal, everyday language, like asking what has happened in the match so far.

With Match Chat, users can ask questions and receive answers as if they were talking to a friend who knows a lot about tennis. The chat function pulls in live stats and tennis history to provide users with an in-depth story behind the tennis match in question. Furthermore, the chat function also shares photos and video clips of the matches discussed. All of this takes place in a way that feels as natural as talking to a friend who loves tennis as much as the user does.