Karen Khachanov showed his remarkable resilience as he fought back and defeated Italy's Lorenzo Sonego and secured a spot in the Quarter-Finals of the French Open 2023 for the second time. Khachanov started slowly but came back strongly and won the clash 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(7), 6-1 in a thrilling encounter on Court Suzanne Lenglen. In the early stages of the match, Khachanov struggled to find the flow while Sonego started with a storm. The Russian found his rhythm and turned the match from there.
The turning point of the match came in the third-set tiebreak when Sonego squandered a 4-0 lead, allowing Khachanov to mount a remarkable comeback. Khachanov is back in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019.
Back in the #RolandGarros quarterfinals for the first time since 2019 👊
Sonego never recovered from wasting a 4-0 advantage in the third-set tiebreak, which proved to be the turning point of an entertaining encounter. Khachanov will now face either two-time Roland Garros champion Novak Djokovic or Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas. Sonego was strong on serve and not faced a single break point. He outplayed his opponent in a one-sided opening set that he sealed when Khachanov netted a crosscourt forehand.
"After the first set and a half, I was thinking, what am I doing here, he was hitting all over the place so I decided all I could do was fight," said Khachanov.
Khachanov brought his best game into the second set to level the contest, which went to a tiebreak in the third. Sonego cruised to a 4-0 lead, only to blow it away and fall 5-6 behind. He saved the first set point but served a double fault on the second. After Losing the set, it broke Sonego's momentum and his game. Khachanov pumped up and went on to seal the match by winning the fourth set, prevailing on the first match point.
AI in Sports: How It's Changing Player Performance & Fan Experience
The introduction of Artificial Intelligence or AI in sports is rapidly growing as it is revolutionizing the experience for both fans and players, bringing significant changes for greater communication.
Artificial Intelligence has been improving the sports we watch and analyze for nearly the past 20 years, but the latest generation of ultra-modern AI tools is revolutionizing every aspect of sports, from improving player and team performances to ensuring safety along with fan engagement and the experiences.
AI can process and store large amounts of data, which allows us to gain insights that we couldn't see before. This capability is at the center of the revolution. For the players, this brings improved strategies, varied training methods, and a significantly lower risk of injury.
The fans enjoy a whole new level of engagement in the game, thanks to Al-powered platforms providing content tailored to them, such as virtual reality experiences and more.
The massive impact of AI in the Sports Industry
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the Sports Industry rapidly by offering solutions to common problems such as individual performance, tactical requirements, injuries and recoveries, variations in training, etc.
The capacity of AI and GenAI tools to analyze complex data and provide instant insights is ushering in a new era of athletic performance and fan engagement as well.
From predictive analytics that improve player safety and performance to AI-powered viewing experiences for fans, the influence of artificial intelligence is setting the bar higher across the industry.
1. Player and team performance
(Image Credit | Markovate)
GenAI can analyze team and player behavior to reach conclusions that would contribute to improved training and coaching. For example, they can monitor and analyze the movements of players with computer vision.
In this way, they can assess whether an athlete is moving wrongly or could be injured. Machine learning algorithms can watch game videos to identify patterns of the opposing team. Sports coaches can be made to develop wiser game plans and strategies by artificial intelligence.
Some techniques, including motion tracking and motion analysis, can capture changes in the posture, movement, or technique of a player that indicte fatigue or poor motor control.
According to a study by Grand View Research, the sports analytics market size was valued at $1.9 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $5.2 billion by 2028, showcasing the rapid growth and demand for advanced analytics tools in sports.
The following two tools are widely applicable to player and team analysis:
SportVU: This system tracks detailed player and ball motion in a game with computer vision and machine learning. It can analyze shot mechanics, accelerations and decelerations, speed, and distance.
KINEXON: This system tracks positional and motion data in real-time by equipping players with sensors.
2. Injury Prediction and Prevention
(Image Credit | Sportsmith)
Injuries occur regularly in professional sports. Identifying and preventing injuries before they even occur is likely one of the most thrilling applications of AI.
Teams can utilize AI algorithms to monitor an individual's motion as they move their joints and strain their muscles. It can search for patterns or instabilities that signify an injury before the symptoms themselves appear.
AI can recognize a slight deviation in the amount of strain a soccer player puts on their knee joint and warn the coaches or medical staff. Way before the injury became acute enough to cause the player to miss games, the team could either give them rest or do exercises to help them recover.
A report by MarketsandMarkets estimates that the global sports medicine market, which incorporates AI-driven health monitoring solutions, is projected to reach $9.3 billion by 2026, underlining the significant role of AI in athlete well-being.
The following two tools could be used in the AI-powered prediction and prevention of injuries:
Sparta Science: It uses computer vision and motion sensing in analyzing movement patterns of an athlete. Based on motion data, biomechanical deficiencies, and especially risks of increased injury, machine learning models are able to identify those.
Zone 7: It measures injury risk using factors such as workload, degree of fatigue, and others through artificial intelligence and research in sports science. Their methods take age, position, body composition, and medical history into account.
3. Training Through AI-Powered Analytics and Wearables
(Image Credit | Sports Tomorrow)
Smartwatches and fitness trackers are examples of wearable technology that have become essential for tracking many of the parameters mentioned earlier.
Wearable GPS devices that can track athletes' speed and location, overall distance traveled, and movement patterns are available to provide relevant information.
Wearable heart rate monitors use optical sensors to measure blood flow in real-time, tracking the heart rate. This is an important aspect of monitoring heart health, fitness levels, and recovery. It also helps in tracking blood oxygen levels, which is another important component of modern-day fitness trackers. They use optical sensors to track the oxygen saturation level of blood.
Since the 2010s, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), such as GPS tracking vests, have been commonly used in professional sports. Such vests are offered with discrete and effective GPS tracking and sensors located on the back and shoulders; they are typically worn as tank tops.
In football and rugby, the vest is mainly utilized to track the location and movement of a player and, thereby, report strengths and weaknesses.
4. Sports Commentary and Reporting
Sports commentary and reporting can automatically be generated from match events and live data by employing natural language processing(NLP) methods like GPT-3. Artificially intelligent commentary not only comments on a strategy but also summarizes the critical events of match play.
Similarly, GenAI can create such highlights, summaries, and post-match data reportage for viewing audiences as well.
NLP methods can make the commentary more dramatic and interesting by taking into account the game statistics and situations in real-time data. With the use of generated personalities and tones, it is possible to accommodate various fan interests in the coverage.
Automated GenAI reporting enhances sports coverage and commentary without losing interesting and captivating stories.
5. Sports Officiating
(Image Credit | Griffon Webstudios)
The use of AI in sports officiating is not without controversy, including traditional backlash and concerns regarding technology's influence on the game. Yet, the improvements it introduces, such as real-time analysis and decision support, are dramatically enhancing the accuracy and fairness of officiating.
Its capabilities to review plays from multiple angles and analyze them in seconds are proving invaluable in high-level games where every call matters.
Despite initial doubts, the use of AI in officiating is increasingly being accepted, with many seeing its potential to eliminate human error and ensure a level playing field.
As the technology improves and its uses extend, its role in assisting fair play and accuracy in sports is poised to increase, ushering in a new era in the use of technology and sportsmanship.
6. Player Scouting
(Image Credit | Intuz)
Team owners are using artificial intelligence to review the performance of the players. To determine the most skilled people to invest in, they use data analysis using artificial intelligence. It takes millions of dollars to find talent in the sports world.
So, team owners would like to ensure that scouting one player is the best decision. Artificial intelligence is used widely in scouting players for any sport, be it cricket, football, or basketball.
AI-powered Change in Fan Engagement and Experiences
1. Personalized Fan Engagement
To provide customised fan experiences, GenAI algorithms can model the preferences and behaviours of audiences. Sports teams and broadcasters can use these insights to optimize engagement across media channels.
For example, social media platforms can deliver tailored video highlights, personalized promotions, and AI-recommended content to resonate with each fan.
The NBA revealed 'NB-AI', allowing fans to activate "movie mode" and watch live games animated like popular films, such as Spider-Man
Based on their past interactions and activities, the Generative AI identifies what content types, sports stats, and topics each fan finds most appealing. It creates and sends personalized content for each person. This level of customization, enabled by GenAI in sports, helps sports organizations connect more deeply with their audiences.
2. Viewing Experiences
GenAI can process live video to generate augmented reality (AR) overlays and graphics that enhance broadcasts or live streams.
For example, shot trajectories, real-time player stats, and situational analysis can be visualized and overlaid onto the gameplay footage. For virtual reality (VR), GenAI can create real-world simulated environments for an immersive in-game perspective.
The key innovation is using Generative AI to dynamically generate and adapt AR/VR overlays and environments on the fly, customized to each moment. As the narrative and action of the game shift, the GenAI-powered augmented experiences shift with them, elevating viewing to multidimensional engagement.
A survey conducted by PwC found that 65% of sports fans are interested in using AR or virtual reality (VR) devices to watch sports, indicating a growing appetite for immersive experiences enabled by AI-driven technologies.
Conclusion
AI collaboration with sports is making the place safer as well as fairer. Predictive modeling and algorithms in AI are becoming a must for injury prevention. AI guarantees that more accuracy and fairness can be introduced in the outcome of a game by enhancing officiating. Both the aspects of performance and integrity are vital components in ensuring the prosperity and popularity of sports continue.
The impact of AI reaches sports journalism, advertising, and the creation of next-gen sports equipment, beyond the field or court. These innovations create new revenue streams and provide more exciting ways for fans to engage with their beloved sports and teams.
In this sense, artificial intelligence in the sports field could be said to be, by itself, a change not only for the athletes or for the coaches but for the sports system in general. With AI, the sports of the future could easily be foreseen because technology would harmoniously mix with manly athleticism at its highest levels.
Jannik Sinner won the Australian Open 2025 title after defeating Alexander Zverev. With this, the Italian becomes the first man to retain the title since Novak Djokovic’s “three-peat” from 2019 to 2021. Let's take a look at the Australian Open winners list (Men).
In this article, we will brief you on the Australian Open winners list (Men).
Jannik Sinner claims Australian Open 2025 title
Jannik Sinner won the latest edition of the Australian Open after defeating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
With this, the Italian becomes the first man to retain the title since Novak Djokovic’s “three-peat” from 2019 to 2021.
Aged 23 years 163 days, Sinner is also the youngest man to win multiple Australian Open titles since Jim Courier in 1992-93.
Djokovic won the most titles
Over the last decade, the tournament has been dominated by Novak Djokovic who has won the tournament ten times in this period (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023).
The only other players to win the tournament in this time are Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.
Djokovic's record in the tournament is impressive, with his ten wins coming in a consecutive period of 11 years.
He has been able to defeat some of the greatest players in the world, such as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, in the final of the tournament.
Djokovic also has two hat-tricks of Australian Open titles, once between 2011-2013 and then doing an encore from 2019-2021.
The Serbian’s first Australian Open crown came in 2008, when he came from a set down to beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.
Djokovic has beaten Andy Murray in as many as four Australian Open finals while he has also beaten Rafael Nadal in two finals.
On the other hand, Roger has won the Australian Open twice in the last decade, in 2017 and 2018.
He has been a finalist in the tournament five times in this period, showing his consistency at the tournament.
While Stan Wawrinka has won the Australian Open once, in 2014. He defeated Rafael Nadal in the final, who was the defending champion at the time.
This win was a major upset and Wawrinka proved that he is capable of winning the biggest tournaments in the world.
It is interesting to note that, in the last decade, the men's singles of the Australian Open has been dominated by Swiss players, with four out of the ten titles won by either Roger Federer or Stan Wawrinka.
While Novak Djokovic, another Swiss player, has dominated the tournament with 10 titles. This shows the strength of Swiss players in the tennis world, particularly on hard courts.
Tennis Stats: Players to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles without losing
To play at a consistent level at Grand Slams is a very difficult task. Rod Laver and Novak Djokovic are the two contrasting examples. Let's take a look at the tennis Stats of players who won back-to-back Grand Slam titles without losing.
To play at a consistent level at Grand Slams is a very difficult task. Rod Laver and Novak Djokovic are the two contrasting examples. In the Open Era, Rod Laver won 4 majors consecutively in 1969 and Novak Djokovic won 4 majors from mid-2015 to mid-2016.
Let's take a look at the tennis Stats of players who won back-to-back Grand Slam titles without losing.
Tennis Stats | Players to win back-to-back Grand Slams
Rod Laver | 4
Rod Laver knows what it takes to complete tennis’ ultimate achievement, having won the Grand Slam as an amateur in 1962 and again as a pro in 1969. He defeated Tony Roche in the US Open final (7-9, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2) to win a fourth consecutive major title. Laver won the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open in the same calendar year (1969), which still stands as a unique achievement in the Open era.
As a professional Laver was banned from playing the Grand Slam tournaments as well as other tournaments. In 1968, Laver was again able to compete. During his career, he won eleven Grand Slam tournaments, eight Pro Slam tournaments, and five Davis Cup titles. He was also the first player to win four consecutive Grand Slams in the same calendar year in 1962.
Novak Djokovic | 4
Novak Djokovic also achieved four consecutive Grand Slam titles. He won the last two majors of 2015 (Wimbledon and US Open) and the first two Slams of 2016 (Australian Open and French Open). By winning the title in Paris in 2016, Djokovic completed a 'Career Grand Slam' (winning all four major tournaments), the fourth man to do so in the open era after Andre Agassi (1999), Roger Federer (2009) and Rafael Nadal (2010). He also completed a golden slam in 2023 when he won all four grand slams and the Olympic games.
Djokovic is the first man to win 24 Slam titles. He has tied Margaret Court for the most ever of any player in any era. Djokovic also won 10 Australian Open, which makes him the record holder for the most titles at that tournament.
Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's LIVE Coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024. Today, we will bring you all the updates of Day 3 (29th July). Nineteen medals are due to be handed out on Day 3 of Paris 2024.
This is Abishek Goswami, Koushik Biswas will join us later to give you all the updates on Day 2 from our web desk.
Swimming | Mollie O'Callaghan breaks Olympic record to win Gold in women's 200m freestyle
Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan breaks her teammate, defending Olympic and World Champion Ariarne Titmus's Olympic record to win Gold in women's 200m freestyle. She stuns the world with the timing of 1:53.27.
🥇Mollie O'Callaghan 1:53.27
🥈 Ariarne Titmus 1:53.81
🥉Siobhán Haughey 1:54.55.
Jul 29, 2024, 6:12 PM
Men's street skateboarding: Yuto Horigome wins gold
Yuto Horigome successfully defends his Gold medal in men's street skateboarding with some late heroics. He was seventh before his final trick and won the Gold at the end with 281.14 points.
Jul 29, 2024, 2:16 PM
Tennis: Djokovic beats Nadal in straight sets
Djokovic won 6-1 6-4 and this might be the last time we saw Rafael Nadal at his favourite The Philippe Chatrier. Djokovic moves to thrid round while Nadal will focus on Men's doubles now.
Jul 29, 2024, 10:54 AM
Shooting: China's Sheng Lihao grabs Gold with an Olympic record
Sheng Lihao wins the Men's 10m Rifle event with an Olympic record of 252.2.
Victor Lindgren, the World Champion collects the Silver medal in his debut Olympics. Miran Maricic wins Croatia's first medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 with a Bronze medal finish.
Shooting: Ban Hyojin equals Olympic record to win Gold in women's 10m air rifle
Ban, 16, who is still who's still studying at high school, beats Huang Yuting of China in a shoot-off to win the Gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle final and equals the Olympic record set by Yang Qian in Tokyo.
India's Ramita Jindal finished seventh in the finals.
Jul 29, 2024, 8:46 AM
Shooting: Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh qualify for the bronze medal match
Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh qualified for the bronze medal match of the 10m air pistol mixed team event with 580 points. Bhaker scored 291 and Sarabjot scored 289. They will face Korea in the Bronze medal match tomorrow from 1pm IST.
Jul 29, 2024, 7:23 AM
Badminton: Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto in action in Women's doubles
Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto are in action in Women's Doubles against Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida of Japan.
Jul 29, 2024, 7:21 AM
Shooting:
Rhythm Sangwan and Arjun Singh are shooting in firing points 30 & 31 while Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh are at firing points 31 and 22.
Jul 29, 2024, 7:17 AM
Shooting: Reminder for Indian fans
Just a reminder, India have the Qualification world record of 587 set in Osijek in 2021.
India also have the Qualification Olympic record 582 set in Tokyo Olympics.
Jul 29, 2024, 7:06 AM
Shooting: Bhaker will be in action in 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Qualification
Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh; Rhythm Sangwan and Arjun Singh Cheema will be in action from 12.45 pm IST in 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Qualification.
Jul 29, 2024, 6:58 AM
Badminton: Satwik-Chirag's match is cancelled
Today's scheduled match of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty was cancelled as their German opponents have withdrawn from the tournament because of injury.
The Indian pair will take on the Indonesian duo of Fajr and Rian tomorrow at 5.30 pm IST.
Jul 29, 2024, 3:20 AM
Léon Marchand broke Michael Phelps' 16-year-old Olympic record on Day 2
Léon Marchand broke the men's 400m individual medley Olympic record with a timing of 4:02.95. He broke Michael Phelps' previous Olympic record of 4:03.84, set at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Jul 29, 2024, 3:17 AM
Indian athletes on Day 2
PV Sindhu won in straight sets in Women's Singles 🏸
Ramita Jindal qualified for Women's 10m Air Rifle final 🔫
Balraj Panwar qualified for the Men's sculls quarter-finals 🚣♂️
Arjun Babuta qualified for the Men's 10m Air Rifle final 🔫
Historic Bronze medal by Manu Bhaker in Women's 10m Air Pistol 🔫🥉
Sreeja Akula won in straight sets againstChristina Källberg in the Women's singles round of 64 🏓
Sharath Kamal lost against Deni Kožul by 2-4 in Men's Singles round of 64 🏓
Manika Batra defeated Great Britain's Anna Hursey 4-1 in the Women's singles round of 64 🏓
Dhinidhi Desinghu finished at the top in the women's 200m Freestyle Heat with a timing of 2:06.96. 🏊♀️
Indian Women's team lost to the Netherlands in team event quarter-final 🏹
Sumit Nagal lost against Corentin Moutet by 2-6, 6-2, 5-7 in Men's singles 🎾
The Paris Olympics 2024 has already begun and thousands of athletes are going head to head for the medals. Let's look at the list of all the medal winners day by day.
TheParis Olympics 2024started on 26th July with a mega opening ceremony. A total of 10,500 athletes have participated in the Olympics 2024. The eyes of these athletes are on winning medals for their respective countries. The first gold medal of the Paris Games went to China, but we'll get more winners, joining the list every day from July 27- Aug 11. Let's see the list of all the medal winners day by day.