Maybe attending sports events in person is too been-there, done-that in the modern age. So, apparently, is watching the actual action on a TV, laptop or phone. The Australian Open is getting in on the newest trend in the sports world by re-creating tennis matches in video-game form.

The Australian Open might look a little different this year if you’re livestreaming it on YouTube. That’s because the tournament has put an animated overlay on some of its matches to avoid broadcast licensing conflicts,

The second round of the Australian Open continues on Wednesday, Jan. 15 and into Thursday, Jan. 16.

The first professional tennis tournament of 2025 is using a clever way to ensure more people can watch the matches. As explained by tennis reporter Bastien

Tennis Australia has transformed the world's best players into animated versions of themselves to bypass broadcast restrictions at the Australian Open.