Welcome to the TEC Lowdown, our monthly breakdown of the technology partnerships, platforms and innovations shaping the delivery of the world’s biggest sports events and the way fans and other stakeholders experience them. In this edition:
The Australian Open (AO)
What: The first of the four Tennis Grand Slams
When: Every January
Where: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Organiser/s: Tennis Australia in collaboration with the International Tennis
Federation (ITF)
Infosys & Tennis Australia – Driving digital innovation for AO
Dating back to 2018, the long-term strategic partnership between Tennis Australia and global digital services firm, Infosys – which was renewed this week until 2028 – is central to the Australian Open’s tech evolution. The collaboration brings together advanced AI, big data, cloud computing, analytics, and immersive technologies to enhance the tournament’s digital experience for fans, players, coaches, media and partners alike. They achieve this through a series of initiatives designed to deliver richer, more personalized and more interactive engagement opportunities.
Key Initiatives of the Partnership
- Match Centre & Enhanced Analytics – Powered by AI, large-language models and cloud platforms, the AO Match Centre delivers real-time match statistics, deeper analytical insights, predicted outcomes, evolving leaderboards, and new data layers for fans during live play.
- AI Commentary – Automated generative commentary delivers match narration and insights directly in the app and online, scaling access to contextual analysis across matches that might not receive full broadcast commentary.
- AI-Powered Content – Social media highlights, “Shot of the Day,” instant visual cards and automated clips are created using machine learning and AI video tools for rapid fan sharing.
- VR & Fan Zone Experiences – On-site VR stadiums let fans create and interact with virtual courts with generative graphics and immersive gameplay simulations in themed worlds.
Robust & scalable architecture
For the benefits bound up in the AO Match Centre and Enhanced Analytics to be realised by fans, Tennis Australia need to be sure they have a robust and scalable architecture in place to ensure data is delivered in real time. The same is true for the distribution of content to both their broadcaster partners and their own channels, to power elements ranging from on-screen graphics to live digital feeds.
Since 2018, Tennis Australia has used data infrastructure provided by Ably to underpin the different fan experience innovations they have launched and ensure they can deliver live scores, analytics and fan interactivity in real time at scale, even during peak demand periods. This has allowed AO to deliver seamless updates, digital notifications, match details and fan interactions on global platforms without lag or disruption.
Powering the broadcast experience
To ensure fans at home can follow the Australian Open, Tennis Australia uses a network of international broadcast partners, but they are responsible for content production and distribution throughout the tournament. To facilitate the process of uploading, organisation and distributing this content to different partners and sponsors around the world, Tennis Australia have used Imagen and Wasabi’s media asset management solution since 2022. The combined solution allows them to be more efficient media management and distribution, more cost-effective with storage and enables them to digitize their archive footage.
The Bluezone
In addition to coverage via a series of international broadcast deals, the Australian Open leverages its own digital channels to engage its global audience through innovative programming.
AO Bluezone is the Australian Open’s live streaming offering which delivers behind-the-scenes access to some of the real, unfiltered moments off-court plus insights from tennis experts, influencers, and celebrities and interactive features like Q&As. The Bluezone is available via AusOpen.com, YouTube & the FAST Channel Tennis+.
Embracing innovation
In their efforts to ensure the Australian Open is a market leader in terms of sports fan experience, Tennis Australia have embraced innovation through a number of tech-led initiatives:
Animated Broadcasts
The AO has experimented through AO Animated, which provides animated livestreams of matches using gaming-style player avatars on YouTube – a clever way to offer near-live content outside traditional broadcast rights, aiming to court younger and gaming-savvy audiences. These animated streams recreate match action using player and ball tracking data from 12 different cameras, rendered through graphics engines to create a cartoon version of games on a short delay.
Generative AI League
At the 2025 AO, Tennis Australia and Infosys introduced “Beyond Tennis”, a world’s first generative AI-powered tennis league where fans engage year-round with simulated teams and virtual players. Users can coach and compete in AI-generated tournaments – effectively blending esports, gaming and real tennis engagement.
Web 3.0 & The Metaverse
Tennis Australia have been early adopters of web 3.0 technology and the possibilities of the metaverse for engaging fans and delivering value for their partners. In 2022, they delivered a world-first NFT art collection linked to live match data in the form of their AO Art Ball. They also delivered a virtual Australian open via the 3D virtual reality platform Decentraland.
The following year they launched their own experience on the hugely popular Roblox. AO Adventure enables users to explore the world of the Australian Open, completing activities, play tennis games with simulated commentary and earn digital Australian themed accessories for their avatar.
Investing in the future
Perhaps their biggest commitment to innovation comes in the form of their AO Start Up initiative, an accelerator programme which invites early-stage tech companies to pilot and showcase cutting-edge solutions across analytics, sustainability, health and fan engagement. The programme supports a mix of Australian and International start-ups and has a strong focus on AI, player/fan experience and media innovation, while also partnering with tech companies for event enhancements, using data analytics for broadcasts (like AO Animated), and integrating tech to boost fan engagement and operational efficiency.
The Australian Open then invests in the technology businesses coming through the programme – or identified elsewhere – through its venture arm, AO Ventures which closed an initial funding round of $30m early last year.
Additional Partnerships & Tech Initiatives
Hawk-Eye Ball Tracking
Like all Tennis Grand Slams – and many other major sporting events around the world – the Australian Open uses Hawk-Eye’s combination of high-speed cameras and sensors to track balls and player movements in real time, enhancing both officiating and broadcast visual experiences.
Nexo – Official Crypto Partner
In late 2025, Tennis Australia announced a multi-year partnership with Nexo as the official crypto partner of the Australian Open and associated summer events – marking a strategic alignment with digital finance and blockchain ecosystems.
CyberCX – Official Cyber Security Partner
Since 2023, CyberCX have provided Cyber security services for the Australian Open aimed at safeguarding the tournament from cyber threats and ensuring the event’s smooth operation without malicious digital interference. In August 2025, the Australian business was acquired by Accenture to bolster their cybersecurity services in Asia Pacific.
