Digital Equalizes the Playing Field: For Fans, Players and Media

Onto the finals weekend of Roland-Garros 2020, and on the day when Sofia Kenin and Iga Swiatek face-off, RG will crown a new women’s singles champion. The action on the men’s side too heated up yesterday with a 14-minute opening game between Diego Schwartzman and Rafael Nadal, eventually to be completely dominated by the king of clay, with a 113-86 points win. And what an incredible five set finish to the other men’s semifinals with Novak Djokovic treating us to an absolute masterclass as he overcame the stiff resistance from Stefanos Tsitsipas. We are now all set for a mouthwatering finale, the 56th clash between the two giants of this game to add another prestigious grand slam trophy to their record breaking collection. Surely, this weekend we are in for a celebration of forehands, backhands, drop-shots and the sport itself that we so love.

From the very outset, when we started our journey of tennis sponsorships a few years ago, we were committed to being more than a sponsor, a true partner– someone who adds real value to the sport and helps reimagine the experience of this game for the billion global fans, the players, the coaches and its vast stakeholder community. We were in the game to create innovations powered by the tech revolution, not merely logo impressions.

Reinvention is its own reward

This year, our purpose took on greater relevance and responsibility with the role of digital amplified by the new normal. It became clear that the tournament would be played differently than before, and we knew that we had to deliver an experience that was also different from what it had ever been.

This required an approach that was part re-imagination and part addition. Since March, our team has been at work, striving to repurpose what was already built for the new context and to also find new virtual-first opportunities. It is this challenge, this circumstance, that makes it exciting to be a part of a team that can solve problems with technology. But first, the problem itself.

The sport of problem-finding

For fans, tuning in remotely, the problem was to find a way to feel more connected. When the sights and sounds aren’t the same, could analytics be the answer? For players, the need was to train effectively with limited on-court time. Could AI serve video analysis to inform match strategy? For media, the difficulty was in keeping up with the sudden surge in demand for digital content. Could they have insights that are ready-to-serve? For example, as I glance through the 3D Match Centre, Rafa served more than 85% of his first serves on the ad court down the T. For his opponent’s coaching staff, this could be an insights goldmine and the key to victory. 

The answers to these questions was where it all began - the Infosys Match Centre, Infosys AI Videos for Players, and Infosys AI-Assisted Journalism. Each is a game-changer for the target audience that it serves, and an innovation that is likely to stay well beyond the tournament.

Resilience and the spirit of innovation

Roland-Garros has always been emblematic of resilience, and this year, it is even more so. On court, the resilience is discernible in athletic endurance. But off court as well, there is resilience on display by those working to ensure the game goes on. It is this resilience that we manifested across 15 innovations that power the Roland-Garros digital experience.

So, when the time came to tell the world, the story of these 15 innovations, we had to celebrate it all and the spirit behind the making of it. The story of #15Love. Over the past 15 days, we have showcased an innovation a day, so that each is recognized, used and adopted by the people it empowers.

And, in our view, these are the stories that matter, and the results that count. Signing this one off in anticipation of two glorious days of finals action. Will Rafael Nadal make history with his 13th at RG?

If you missed our Spirit of Innovation video, watch it here

To know more about the #15Love innovations, visit our website

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Behind the #15Love Experience: This blog series celebrates the spirit of collaboration and innovation that went into shaping the Roland-Garros 2020 digital landscape. Follow Infosys on LinkedIn to hear stories of passion and purpose from the teams at Infosys and French Tennis Federation (FFT), as they talk about the next normal in experiences, partnerships, technology and branding.