Episode summary
US Open 2026: Live From Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Day Two | Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily
· · 41 min · Hosts: Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec · Guests: Jon Wertheim, Ben Rothenberg, Kameryn Stanhouse, Tyler Sidell, Chris Studley
Summary
The episode focused on how the US Open has become as much a commercial and media spectacle as a tennis tournament. A guest argued that the US Open’s new prediction-market sponsorship is especially troubling in tennis because the sport is individually contested, vulnerable to corruption, and already plagued by match-fixing concerns and player abuse. The same guest also criticized the tournament’s embrace of influencers and its willingness to chase revenue even when it conflicts with the sport’s integrity and accessibility.
Another guest said the Open is wrestling with an identity crisis: it is no longer just a place for tennis fans, but also for bettors, brand activations, and aspirational social-media content. The discussion turned to the scheduling pressures that push matches late into the night, with the guest arguing that best-of-five-set men’s matches are the core reason sessions run so long. The guest also said doubles is being squeezed, especially on the men’s side, and suggested women’s tennis has done a better job protecting the format.
Later, IBM guests described how the company’s long-running partnership with the USTA has evolved from websites and apps into AI-driven fan tools, including a new “serve quality” metric built from camera and tracking data. A USTA event-services executive then explained the food-and-drink machine behind the tournament, from the Honey Deuce and upscale concessions to pricing, staffing, and logistics across a site that can keep fans there for multiple meal periods.
Key takeaways
- A guest said the US Open’s new prediction-market sponsorship is especially risky in tennis because match-fixing and player abuse are already persistent problems.
- The guest argued that best-of-five matches are the main reason the Open keeps running past midnight and that the tournament is not serious about fixing it.
- Ben Rothenberg said the US Open now feels like an identity crisis between tennis, gambling, and elite social content.
- IBM said its new “serve quality” stat uses 21 joints and 50 frames per second to generate a new player metric from tracking data.
- Chris Dudley said the US Open sold 738,000 Honey Deuces last year and is tracking toward 800,000 this year.
Notable quotes
“Not a week goes by when the tennis integrity unit that you helped fund fails to announce a match fixing scandal”
“I think if you're not talking about best of five is the issue here. You're not being serious about it”
“There would be changes. You could start the night session earlier or again this best of five thing”
How the episode opens
Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio, news. This is Bloomberg Business Week Daily. Reporting from the magazine that helps global leaders stay ahead with insight on the people, companies, and trends shaping today's complex economy.
Plus, global business, finance, and tech news as it happens. The Bloomberg Business Week Daily podcast with Carol Masser and Tim Stenbec on Bloomberg Radio. He's executive editor and senior writer for Sports Illustrated, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, a tennis commentator, the author or co-author of 10 books, including Glory Days, the summer of 1984, and the 90 days that changed sports and culture forever, strokes of genius as well, Federer Nadal, and the greatest match ever played and many more.
John Worerheim is here with us at the US Open. We speak to him each year. It is a highlight of our US Open coverage and he's back.
John, welcome. Welcome. Good to have you with us this year.
Good to be here. Kind of toasty out here. It's — Toasty. Pleasure to be with you. — Listen, imagine if you had to be out there playing five sets without any shade. — Unthinkable.
Yeah. Unthinkable. Hey, um you know, we're going to talk tennis, but but I think one of the hottest topics here is prediction markets.
You were outspoken earlier this week. We learned on Monday that Kali and the USA were teaming up would be the official prediction market partner of the US Open. Here's what you you you posted in response.
We have a full screen here. This is such a disappointing decision, US Open. Not a week goes by when the tennis integrity unit that you helped fund fails to announce a match fixing scandal and you take sponsorship money from a platform predicated on profiting from inside information.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- us open
- tennis industry
- sports entertainment
- event technology
- ibm sports
Companies and tickers mentioned
- IBM
- IBM
- USTA
Watch the episode
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
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