Reigning world number one Aryna Sabalenka has publicly expressed bewilderment over the Australian Open’s prohibition of wearable fitness technology during competitive matches. The Belarusian tennis star revealed she was instructed to remove her WHOOP performance tracker shortly before her first-round match in Melbourne.
This regulatory clash highlights a significant discrepancy between Grand Slam tournaments and regular WTA/ATP tour events, where such health monitoring devices receive full authorization. Sabalenka emphasized that players had received prior approval from the International Tennis Federation (ITF), creating confusion about the Grand Slam’s divergent stance.
‘We received official confirmation from the ITF permitting these devices,’ Sabalenka stated following her victory. ‘I was unaware that Grand Slam organizers had reached a different conclusion. Throughout the competitive season, we consistently utilize WHOOP technology across WTA tournaments to monitor physiological metrics.’
The controversy extends beyond Sabalenka, affecting other top competitors including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The Italian player elaborated on the practical applications, noting: ‘The data collection isn’t for real-time analysis but rather for post-match evaluation of physical exertion, stress responses, and cardiovascular performance.’
Tournament officials acknowledged ongoing discussions regarding potential policy revisions but provided no substantive explanation for the current ban. This technological limitation prevents athletes from gathering crucial biometric data including heart rate variability, recovery metrics, and exertion levels during some of tennis’s most physically demanding matches.
The situation underscores growing tensions between athletic technological advancement and traditional tournament regulations, raising questions about how governing bodies will adapt to increasingly data-driven training methodologies in professional sports.