Not for Sabalenka, Sinner and Alcaraz now, but wearables could be OK at future Australian Opens

Australian Open to Reconsider Ban on Wearable Fitness Trackers as Top Players Push Back

Wearable fitness trackers may soon find their way back onto the wrists of tennis players at Grand Slam tournaments, following controversy at this year’s Australian Open where several top players were asked to remove their devices during matches.

World No. 1 players Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, along with Jannik Sinner, have all been approached by chair umpires and instructed to remove their wrist-worn monitoring devices during their matches in Melbourne, highlighting a regulatory disconnect between the four major tournaments and the rest of the professional tennis calendar.

The awkward interventions, which were captured on video and widely shared on social media, have drawn attention to the conflicting rules governing technology use in the sport. While wearable fitness trackers are permitted at regular ATP and WTA tournaments and approved by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), they remain prohibited at the four Grand Slams: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

Sabalenka, who is pursuing her third Australian Open title in four years, expressed frustration after her quarterfinal victory on Tuesday. “I don’t understand why because the whole year we are wearing them in WTA tournaments, all the tournaments I play,” she said. “I don’t understand why the Grand Slams are not allowing us to wear it, and I really hope that they will reconsider the decision and let their players track their health monitor.”

Tennis Australia acknowledged the discrepancy in a statement, noting that “wearables are currently not permitted at Grand Slams,” but added that the tournament is “involved in ongoing discussions on how this situation could change.” This suggests the prohibition may be lifted for future editions of the tournament.

The devices in question, such as those made by WHOOP, have become invaluable tools for elite athletes across multiple sports. They collect physiological data that provides insights about health, performance, training effectiveness, competition intensity, recovery, and sleep patterns. WHOOP describes its product as a “24/7 wearable coach designed to help you improve your health, fitness, and longevity.”

In a social media response to the Australian Open controversy, WHOOP defended its technology, stating it is “performance-enhancing — by design. That’s the whole point.” The company added, “Taking that insight away is like asking athletes to play blind.”

The tournament organizers noted that players already have access to certain performance metrics at the Australian Open, including distance covered, changes of direction, high acceleration events, and the speed and spin of shots. However, these external measurements don’t capture the internal physiological data that wearables provide.

Sinner, who has won the last two Australian Open titles, explained that the data isn’t used during matches but rather for post-match analysis and recovery planning. “There is certain data what we would like to track a little bit on court. It’s not for the live thing,” he said. “It’s more about you can see after the match. These are data we would like to use also in practice sessions because from that you can practice on with the heart rate, how much calories you burn, all these kind of things.”

Both Alcaraz and Sinner complied immediately when asked to remove their devices. Sinner acknowledged that alternatives exist, such as monitoring vests, but found them uncomfortable for match play. “Rules are rules. I understand. I won’t use it again,” he said.

The controversy highlights the growing intersection of technology and sports, where data analytics increasingly influences training methodologies, recovery protocols, and even in-game strategy. As professional tennis continues to embrace technological advances, pressure is mounting on Grand Slam tournaments to align their regulations with the rest of the tennis calendar to allow players consistent access to tools they rely on throughout the season.

With Tennis Australia already indicating openness to change, players and fans may soon see wearable technology officially sanctioned at all levels of professional tennis competition.