Infosys offers AI-based insights on game analysis to Australian Open

Indian IT and consulting major Infosys is offering a range of artificial intelligence (AI)-based insights at the ongoing Australian Open (AO-2023), a grand slam level tennis tournament that is happening at Melbourne Park, from 16–29 January this year. The idea is to help the authorities create greater fan engagement with the help of engaging and immersive technologies, the company said in a statement.

Now in the fifth year of its partnership with Tennis Australia (TA), the governing body for tennis in Australia that organises national and international tennis tournaments including the Australian Open, Infosys, this year, has created an enhanced ‘player's portal’ with new AI-generated videos that will provide players and coaches with game and competitor insights for post-match reviews and pre-game analysis.  

Also, the mental wellbeing or ‘get into the zone’ is designed such that it plays video montages of the player’s previous exceptional performances to put them in the winning mindset before the match. 

Additionally, ‘AI shot of the day’ that uses machine learning to rapidly identify match highlights, using multiple data points that are objective (such as fastest serve) and subjective (player emotion, crowd reaction and cruciality of the shot in context to the match) has been upgraded, allowing Tennis Australia’s media team to analyse and post clips to social media.  

Meanwhile, the Match Centre launched in 2021 has been refreshed to a 2.0 iteration, providing fans with insight segments such as Matchbeats, Stroke Summary, Rally Analysis, Courtvision and AI Commentary, as well as a new real-time win predictor.  

Match Centre 2.0 also offers simplified game data and visualisations through contrasting colour combinations, which meet Web Content Accessibility Guideline 2.1 at the AA level – the second-highest level that can be achieved out of three levels.  

“Through detailed journey mapping of how fans, players, coaches and partners engage in the AO, our teams continually identify opportunities to innovate across digital and physical touchpoints with a focus on entertainment, sustainability and accessibility,” said Andrew Groth, executive vice president of Infosys and region head of Infosys Australia and New Zealand.  

 “Our journey continues in 2023, through engaging fans in new digital experiences, engaging players through digital coaching and better preparing young leaders through digital learning tools.” 

Infosys’ focus on the Grand Slam’s sustainability efforts comes in the form of its ‘engage digital carbon management platform’, which the provider claims will support Tennis Australia in reaching net-zero emissions by 2040, in tracking and visualising its emission reduction performance.

“This partnership has enabled us to deliver new innovative digital experiences for everyone associated with the tournament. We are also going deeper and wider in our journey this year with truly meaningful use of technology for climate action,” Craig Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia and Australian Open Tournament Director, said, in a statement.

Infosys and TA are also bridging the talent shortage, providing digital learning through Infosys Springboard, a program aimed at skilling up participants in the topics of “inclusion, leadership, technology, and design thinking”, aimed at schoolchildren in the 10 to 11 years age group.