Australian Open streams cartoon matches to bypass broadcast rules

The Australian Open has turned its players into cartoon characters to overcome broadcasting restrictions.

The concept has allowed them to livestream matches on their YouTube channel, Australian Open TV.

During the first round of the Melbourne event, top tennis stars like Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alvarez’s shots, movements and outfits were imitated.

Tennis author and reporter Bastien Fachan took to X saying, “The Australian Open doesn’t own all of their broadcasting rights [fairly common], so they’re live-streaming a Wii Tennis-like version of the matches on YouTube - love this.”

“And it actually mirrors the real players' motions,” he commented.

The players and ball on the court were supersized, as the athletes moved robotically during and between points.

Inaccuracies in the character depictions included balding, darker skin colour and holes in their clothing.

The television commentary played over the animation, as did the live crowd reaction, and chair umpire calls.

An animated Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena are semi-filled with fake spectators cheering but the ball kids on-court are still.

Jannik Sinner vs Nicolás Jarry in round one of the Australian Open on a cartoon livestream. Photo / Australian Open TV, YouTube

One tennis fan commented on the concept: “It’s fun but terrible but interesting. I don’t even know how to feel about it.”

“This is fire, I actually like this,” said another.

However, others remained spectacle: “Tried it briefly, had to turn it off. Could they make the players look even a little more like the players they are supposed to represent??? Even the animations were not smooth. It was a mess.”

Day three of the Australian Open is set to get underway from 1pm with headline matches, Italian Matteo Berrettini taking on Brit, Cameron Norrie; and Brit Emma Raducanu meeting 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.