Wearables banned at Aussie Open, but stars rally behind it
MELBOURNE, Australia—Wearable fitness trackers will likely be okay for players to use in future editions of the Australian Open, where leading players Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka have been asked to remove their devices in matches this year.
Sabalenka wants the ban overturned now. The top-ranked player in women’s tennis, aiming for a third Australian title in four years, said after her quarterfinal win on Tuesday that the Australian Open and the other three majors are out of step with the rest of tennis.
Alcaraz and Sinner, who have split the last eight major men’s singles titles between them, were approached by chair umpires during the fourth round on Sunday and Monday to take off the straps they usually wear on their wrists.
Video of the interactions drew attention to a conflict between regular tournaments and the four majors.
The devices are widely used in elite sports to collect physiological data that provides insights about health and performance in training, competition, recovery and sleep.
The technology is approved for use by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and by the men’s and women’s tours. So far, the approval hasn’t extended to the four Grand Slam tournaments, which include the Australian, French and US Opens and Wimbledon.
So, that’s why the chair umpire approached top-ranked Alcaraz during his fourth-round match against Tommy Paul and asked him to take it off. The 22-year-old Alcaraz immediately complied, taking off his sweatband and removing the strap.
“Wearables are currently not permitted at Grand Slams,” Tennis Australia said in a statement. “The Australian Open is involved in ongoing discussions on how this situation could change.”
Tennis Australia said some wearables provide athletes with an indication of internal load—measures such as heart rate—“which can give them a 360-degree view of the work they’re doing and how their bodies’ respond.”
