Data analytics is rife in tennis, but could AI replace humans entirely?

A robot arm strikes a tennis ball, serving it at 220 miles per hour. From the opposing side of the court, another robot returns the serve and the two machines engage in a 427 stroke rally. An automated umpire decides, instantly, that the ball was out by a hair's breadth. This is the hypothetical, somewhat dystopian image conjured by Chris Brauer, director of innovation at the Institute of Management Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, at a recent panel discussion about the use of data analytics and technology in tennis. While steeped in tradition, tennis has embraced technology on multiple fronts: coaching, umpiring and fan experiences.