Rick is joined by Kameryn Stanhouse, Vice President, Sports & Entertainment Partnerships, IBM to talk about IBM and the US Open.
Technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) are enabling fans around the world to have new immersive experiences of their favorite sport and players. How are these cutting-edge technologies impacting sports, and bettering the fan experience, and how is IBM working with sports organizations to digitally transform these experiences? New for this year, IBM is introducing AI-powered fan experiences for tennis fans, in partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA), which hosts the US Open.
At the end of this month, the US Open tennis tournament kick offs. For over 30 years, IBM has worked closely as the technology partner of the USTA to elevate the digital and fan experience for US Open. This year, new technology solutions will be introduced to enhance the fan experience at the 2025 US Open, including an interactive AI assistant to answer questions about all 254 singles matches, near live Likelihood to Win probabilities for all singles matches and AI generated quick summaries of articles, match recaps and more.
Match Chat: an interactive AI assistant available during and after all 254 singles matches. Using IBM agents and LLMs, Match Chat analyzes real-time match data to instantly answer fans’ questions on topics such as player stats, head-to-head records, match insights and even player name pronunciations.
Live Likelihood to Win: launched in 2021, IBM’s Likelihood to Win will now update in near real-time throughout matches to offer fans live win probabilities. The projections come from a comprehensive, AI-powered analysis of player statistics, expert opinion and match momentum.
Key Points built with watsonx: for the first time, fans can now receive a “TL:DR” for all articles and match analysis on the US Open app and website. By clicking a button at the top of an article page, LLMs on IBM watsonx including IBM Granite will turn the page article into an instant, three-bullet summary.
IBM has a long history of delivering next-generation digital experiences for some of the world’s most revered sports and entertainment events and venues. IBM’s sports partnerships are centered around engaging with fans digitally, and utilizing data in new ways, with the same AI, hybrid cloud and security technology leveraged by IBM enterprise clients. Kameryn Stanhouse, who leads the team who oversees IBM’s global sponsorship portfolio and IBM’s work with sports tournaments and organizations, will be available for interviews ahead of the 2025 US Open tennis tournament. She can share more information about the work IBM is doing with sports including how new technologies are impacting the fan experience, examples of IBM’s partnerships with major sporting events, and the future of sports, as IBM sees it.
Topics:
What are fans looking for in the future of sports?
How is artificial intelligence changing the sports viewing experience for fans?
How did IBM work with the USTA to bring the tournament to life this year?
What other sports partnerships does IBM have and how can fans see this technology in action?
How does this reflect the way businesses are using AI?
Where can our viewers go for more information?
For more information please visit: ibm.com/sports
Kameryn Stanhouse is the Vice President of Sports and Entertainment Partnership at IBM. Kameryn joined IBM in June 2025 and is responsible for leading the Strategy and Partnerships related to IBM’s global sponsorship portfolio, which includes partnerships with US Open (tennis), The Masters, Scuderia Ferrari, UFC, The GRAMMYs, Wimbledon, and more.
Rick is joined by one of the all-time greats. Former ATP No. 1 Mats Wilander.
He was ranked as the world No. 1 in men’s singles by the ATP for 20 weeks, including as the year-end No. 1 in 1988. Wilander won 33 career singles titles, including seven majors (three each at the French Open and Australian Open, and one at the US Open), and seven career doubles titles, including a major in men’s doubles at Wimbledon.
Mats was appearing at the Grand Opening of the Game, Set, Match tennis and pickleball store in Henderson, NV.
Rick talks with a young entrepreneur in Ryan Burbary of Velociti Tennis.
The future of tennis and tennis products.
From Ryan:
When it comes to the environment, every piece of waste counts. That’s why I started with small steps as we worked up to industry-changing evolutions.
Single-use packaging: We started eliminating product packaging wherever possible. Sure, product packaging can help with marketing, but we don’t feel it’s always worth the environmental cost. So, we’re testing removing packaging to eliminate single-use waste on some of our products. That’s why our TurboPoly string and NEH string are sold without traditional packaging that is thrown away.
Greenhouse gases: We’re selling some of our products in bulk in hopes of reducing emissions. For example, our NEH string can be purchased in sets of 5 and Velociti Catalyst can be purchased as a reel so that players who know and love these products can reduce pollution from additional shipments.
Product duration: Making products last longer is another great way to reduce waste. Our Grip-Enhancing Towel can help prolong the life of tennis grips so they don’t need to be replaced as often. Durability is also a top priority in our tennis string manufacturing.
Biodegradable products: The first three steps are all great small steps to an eco-friendlier world of tennis, but the real game-changer came in late 2022. In 2022, we invented the first-ever fully biodegradable polyester string, Velociti Catalyst. Catalyst biodegrades in just 3 to 5 years compared with the 400 to 600 years it takes other synthetic tennis strings to decompose. Velociti is continuing to research other uses for our biodegradable additive, and we hope to launch new biodegradable products in the near future.
Velociti Tennis is the worldwide leader in environmentally sustainable tennis string. The products feature biodegradable materials and minimal single-use packaging to reduce tennis waste. Give Velociti tennis string a try and you’ll find it plays just as well as the top brands.
At Diadem Sports, our journey began in 2015 with a vision that transcends tennis rackets and pickleball paddles. Founded Pompano Beach, Florida—the heartbeat of the sports industry—we set out to redefine what it means to play.
As the last American tennis brand, we’ve built our legacy on innovation. Our team, boasting over a century of combined experience as collegiate and pro players and coaches, saw beyond the status quo. We didn’t just see strings and rackets; we saw untapped potential. This insight led to breakthroughs like our Solstice Power string with patented Star Core Technology, offering unparalleled spin and control.
But our mission goes deeper than creating top-tier products. We believe in “Live to Play”—a philosophy that shapes everything we do. It’s about recognizing that when we pick up a racket or paddle, we’re engaging in something profoundly human. We play for physical fitness and nurturing our health and wellness. We play for the joy of social interaction, satisfying our innate desire to connect with others.
This belief has guided our expansion from tennis into the vibrant world of pickleball. It’s why we’ve diversified our product line with a full range of pickleball gear. Each product is a testament to our commitment to innovation, designed in-house to help you play better.
Yet, “Live to Play” is more than a tagline; it’s a call to action. In a world that often feels disconnected, we’re using sports as a bridge. Tennis and pickleball aren’t just games; they’re platforms for human connection. They’re opportunities to step away from screens, engage with others, and remember the simple joy of play.
As we continue to grow, partnering with distributors worldwide, our vision remains unchanged. We’re here to innovate, to redefine the game, but more importantly, to remind you of why you play. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a weekend warrior, when you choose Diadem, you’re choosing more than equipment. You’re embracing a lifestyle that celebrates movement, connection, and the sheer delight of being active.
Join us in this journey. Live to Play, and let’s make every serve, every volley, and every point a celebration of what makes us human.
Rick talks to the very unique, Jeff Diamond this week. Jeff owns On Tour Golf.
Diamond has been making unique items for the past twenty-plus years, as well as furniture and other functional items from recycled golf clubs with no end in sight. His creations, are the only ones like it in the world and all made in America. Jack Nicklaus, one of the most famous golfers ever, has Jeff’s Big Turtle sculpture in his collection.
Jeff has successfully exhibited at major trade shows across the country including Atlanta and Las Vegas. Jeff also exhibits every year in Augusta, Georgia during the Masters golf tournament and a few years ago sold an 8 foot diameter sphere, sculptured completely from recycled golf club heads, for $30,000.00. Of course most of his unique products are priced for the general public to enjoy. So let’s “play through” and view a sampling of his great works!
Jeff is now venturing into the tennis world, recycling vintage wooden rackets into tables and table lamps.
