World No 1s Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were both ordered to remove banned fitness trackers before matches at the Australian Open.
Alcaraz faced off against 19th seed Tommy Paul on Sunday at Melbourne Park. But before sealing a three-set victory, chair umpire Marija Cicak noticed that he had placed a wearable health tracker underneath a sweatband on his arm.
She instructed the six-time Grand Slam champion to remove the device, a WHOOP band, with Alcaraz complying with the official’s request.
WHOOP bands are worn by some of the world’s best athletes. Cristiano Ronaldo is a global ambassador for the brand, while Rory McIlroy and LeBron James also use WHOOP.
The fitness tool is used to help athletes track key health metrics, including a person’s heart rate and their blood oxygen levels. The band can ultimately help a person improve their rate of recovery following high-intensity exercise.
Interestingly, Alcaraz is not the only player to have been pulled up by an official for wearing the piece of technology.
Aryna Sabalenka (pictured), Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have all been pulled up by Australian Open officials
Sinner (pictured) was also similarly asked to remove his WHOOP before facing off against fellow Italian Luciano Darderi
Alcaraz (pictured) faced off against 19th seed Tommy Paul on Sunday at Melbourne Park. But before sealing a three-set victory, chair umpire Marija Cicak noticed that he had placed a wearable health tracker underneath a sweatband on his arm.
Prior to her first-round victory against French star Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah, Sabalenka was also asked to remove her WHOOP device.
The two-time Australian Open champion complied with the umpire’s request, but walked away looking slightly confused.
Defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner was also similarly asked to remove his WHOOP before facing off against fellow Italian Luciano Darderi.
It came after the former world No 1 made headlines over the weekend after he had struggled with cramp due to the extreme heat at Melbourne Park during his third-round match against Eliot Spizzirri.
Sinner would go on to beat Darderi 1-6, 3-6, 6-7(2-7) on Monday evening. However, fans and some former pros have questioned why players aren’t allowed to wear the health monitors.
WHOOP bands are approved by the International Tennis Federation and players are allowed to use them in matches.
However, according to a Tennis Australia spokesperson, athletes are not allowed to wear the devices at the Grand Slams.
‘Wearables are currently not permitted at grand slams. The Australian Open is involved in ongoing discussions on how this situation could change,’ Tennis Australia said.
Sabalenka was seen conversing with the umpire ahead of her first-round match at Melbourne Park last week before she removed her WHOOP band
The International Tennis Federation permits players to wear WHOOP bands during matches
However, the Grand Slams do not currently permit players to use wearable technology during the majors
‘Some wearables provide athletes with an indication of internal load (measures like heart rate), which can give them a 360-degree view of the work they’re doing and how their bodies respond.
‘In terms of other data provided to athletes and their teams at the Australian Open, players can monitor key external load measures such as distance covered, changes of direction, high acceleration events and speed/spin of shots via Bolt 6.’
WHOOP founder Will Ahmed, meanwhile, branded the decision ‘ridiculous’.
‘Whoop is approved by the International Tennis Federation for in-match wear and poses no safety risk. Let the athletes measure their bodies. Data is not steroids!’ He wrote on X.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt hit out at the bizarre ruling.
‘I’m not sure what the ITF are doing well at the moment anyway,’ the 2002 Wimbledon champion said to Channel 9.
‘They’ve had a horror with Davis Cup and now this, and making new rules now, when you can use it on the WTA Tour, it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.’
Nine-time Wimbledon doubles champion Todd Woodbridge echoed Hewitt’s comments, claiming: ‘They worry (that) you can use it for coaching. Well, we’ve got coaching!
‘Why can’t you have your own data? I don’t understand those rules. It doesn’t make sense. Sometimes our rules in tennis … one rule is over here and the other one says “no”. Can we get our rules the same please.’
WHOOP, meanwhile, have claimed that athletes have a right to track their health during matches.
WHOOP, meanwhile, have claimed that athletes have a right to track their health during matches and use their bands to monitor heart rate, blood oxygen levels and their recovery
WHOOP founder Will Ahmed branded the rule ‘ridiculous’ while the brand claimed that athletes have a right to monitor their health metrics
‘WHOOP believes athletes have a fundamental right to understand their own performance and health, including during competition at events like the Australian Open.
‘WHOOP is approved by the International Tennis Federation for in-match wear and poses no safety, fairness or competitive risk.
‘Blocking access to personal health data does not protect sport. WHOOP will continue to stand with athletes and our members to defend their right to their data.’
As on-court thermometers crept towards 40ºC on Saturday, Sinner began to cramp up. He would go a break down at 3-1 in the third set and looked in some trouble.
But he benefited from a huge slice of fortune after Australian Open officials halted play due to the Grand Slam’s heat rules. The roof at Rod Laver was closed and play was allowed to continue.
Sinner later admitted that he had ‘got lucky with the heat rule’ after he won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
‘I took my time and as the time passed, I felt better and better.
‘I’m very happy about this performance. Looking back atevery big tournament, I’ve had some really tough matches. Hopefully, this can give me some positives for the next round.’
