There’s been some head-scratching around why Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were told to remove their fitness watches during the Australian Open. The brand behind the device has voiced strong disapproval of this decision.
It caught people’s attention when referee Mariya Chikaku asked Alcaraz to take off his WHOOP watch, which he had tucked under his sweatband, before his fourth-round match against Tommy Paul. Alcaraz complied, albeit looking a bit put out by having to remove it.
Veteran commentator Mark Petchey pointed out, “You’re not allowed to play here with a WHOOP watch or anything that monitors your vitals or anything like that.” This moment was broadcasted, sparking a sharp rebuttal from WHOOP’s founder, Will Ahmed. He argued that the device is sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation for use during matches and doesn’t pose any safety concerns. He emphasized, “Let athletes measure their bodies. Data is not steroids.”
In another video, Sabalenka, the top-ranked female player, was also instructed early in her match to ditch her watch. Both players followed orders, but you could see the disappointment as they tossed their devices into their bags. It makes sense as they were losing access to important performance metrics like heart rate and step count, which contribute to understanding their recovery.
Australian tennis icons Todd Woodbridge and Lleyton Hewitt didn’t hold back, calling the ban nonsensical. Hewitt voiced his confusion over the ITF’s decisions, stating, “I just don’t know what the ITF is doing well at the moment.” Woodbridge added that since they’re already allowing coaching from the sidelines, it’s puzzling why players can’t use their own data. “Sometimes our rules… one rule ends here and the other rule says ‘no.’ Could we please make our rules the same?”
According to Tennis Australia, “Currently, the use of wearables is not permitted at Grand Slams.” However, discussions are ongoing about possibly changing these rules for future Australian Opens. While players can track their external load like distance covered and shot velocity through the official app, the situation with wearable devices remains uncertain.
Typically, WHOOP bands don’t have screens but still track recovery and physical activity. The data can be analyzed in real time through a linked screen. A WHOOP spokesperson expressed that athletes should have a right to access their performance and health data, especially during competitions. “Blocking access to personal health data will not protect the sport,” they stated.
Interestingly, devices like Apple Watches or Garmins are banned because they have screens that can send and receive messages. In contrast, athletes from other sports, like England’s Ben Stokes and Australia’s Steve Smith, have been seen wearing WHOOP devices in competition.
Throughout his career, Rafael Nadal often wore watches for sponsorship purposes. It’s noted that Alcaraz had been using the device during earlier rounds, raising eyebrows now that it’s been banned.
Despite this incident, Sabalenka still managed to move forward in the tournament, aiming for her third Australian Open title. She’s set to face American teen Iva Jovic in the quarterfinals. The women’s quarterfinalists are quite diverse this year, with four being American: Jovic, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova. In a highlight, Pegula triumphed over defending champion Madison Keys in the fourth round, and will be matching up against Anisimova next.
