Top female tennis players on the WTA Tour now have access to real-time data analytics during in-match coaching breaks, thanks to a new app developed by SAP. The software giant, a long-time partner of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), collaborated closely with players and coaches to design the app, which is powered by SAP’s advanced analytics platform.
While the ATP Tour and Grand Slam events prohibit on-court coaching, the WTA has allowed it since 2008 to provide fans with greater insight into strategy and game dynamics. This new app adds a layer of strategic depth by equipping coaches with real-time performance data that can inform in-the-moment adjustments.
Previously, SAP offered players post-match data to help with long-term preparation, but starting next season, WTA players and their coaches will be able to view critical, real-time stats during matches. Key metrics such as serve direction, shot placement, and other performance indicators will be accessible directly on a WTA-approved mobile device, offering coaches instant insights they can relay to players during breaks.
WTA CEO Stacey Allaster introduced the app at the WTA Tour Finals in Singapore, expressing her confidence in technology’s potential to enhance the sport without compromising its integrity. “We believe that technology will play a major role in modernizing our sport, delivering more to our fans without altering the integrity of the game,” Allaster noted. “Tennis is a data-driven sport, and information is power … This technology sets a new standard for women’s tennis.”
Tennis has long embraced data analytics, with IBM leading the charge by collecting and analyzing point-by-point data for major tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open. SAP, which has successfully integrated analytics across multiple sports including Formula 1, baseball, and soccer, now adds women’s tennis to its lineup with this latest innovation.
As the WTA moves forward with SAP’s app, players at all levels of the game may gain a competitive edge, with the potential to turn a few key points in their favor—a critical advantage in a sport often decided by razor-thin margins.