Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner told wrist devices are on banned list

The Whoop device is on the approved list published by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the worldwide governing body responsible for determining, maintaining and enforcing the official Rules of Tennis, but grand-slam tournaments have autonomy to adjust rules. For example, they can set their own rules for the length of tie-breaks, the number of challenges or reviews permitted and, as Alcaraz and Sinner have now found out, deny the use of wearable technology.

• Serve wars: how Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have changed technique

Sinner, who was asked to remove the device before his fourth-round match against Luciano Darderi on Monday night, said afterwards: “There is certain data that we would like to track a little bit on court. It’s not for the live thing. It’s more [that] you can see [data] after the match.

“These are datas that we would like to use also in practice sessions because from that you can practise on with the heart rate, [see] how much calories you burn, all these kind of things. The umpire asked me straight away if this is the tracker. I said yes. He said remove [it]. It’s fine. Rules are rules. I understand. I won’t use it again.”

In a statement issued to The Times, Tennis Australia said: “Wearables are currently not permitted at grand slams. The Australian Open is involved in ongoing discussions on how this situation could change.” The governing body did not respond when asked whether any further action would be taken against the players but it is understood to be unlikely.

A Whoop device tracks biometric data and motion during training, competition and recovery, giving a player access to information including heart rate, sleep quality, glucose levels, inflammation in the body and stress levels. Alcaraz, who will play the home favourite Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, has continued to wear his device during practice sessions and his team have been approached for comment.

Players at the Australian Open can access similar data analytics but only via Bolt6, the company which since last year has been responsible for the automatic electronic line-calling system at the tournament. “Players can monitor key external load measures such as distance covered, changes of direction, high acceleration events and speed/spin of shots via Bolt6,” a statement said.

Sabalenka has been a Whoop ambassador for a number of years and the analytics from her US Open final victory last year were used by the company to advertise the product on Instagram. Sabalenka wore the Whoop device when she won the Brisbane title two weeks ago because she is allowed to on the WTA Tour. In fact, since 2021 Whoop has been the “official fitness wearable of the WTA Tour”.

The WTA and ATP Tours do not run the grand-slam events. Instead, Tennis Australia, the French Tennis Federation, the All England Club and the United States Tennis Association organise the year’s four majors.

Wearable technologies have been embraced by most other sports. For example, at the Women’s Rugby World Cup last year, a mouthguard was used which flashed red when an impact reached a certain G-force, triggering a head injury assessment for the affected player. Cyclists use a range of technologies during rides, while professional footballers wear heart-rate monitors during matches.

Whoop argued in a statement that the wearable technology did not give players an unfair competitive advantage: “Whoop believes athletes have a fundamental right to understand their own performance and health — including during competition at events like the Australian Open. 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.”

The founder, Will Ahmed, posted on X: “Ridiculous. Let the athletes measure their bodies. Data is not steroids!”

For tour-level events in the UK, the LTA follows WTA and ATP protocols. For other professional events, the LTA follows the rules of the ITF, meaning wearable technologies which are approved on its “player analysis technology” list are allowed.

Sinner cruises through but Keys dumped out

It was a mixed day for the defending champions after Jannik Sinner reached the quarter-finals but Madison Keys was beaten.

Sinner, who has won the Australian Open for the past two years, beat fellow Italian Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) but Keys could not build on her maiden grand-slam win here 12 months ago, losing 6-3, 6-4 against Jessica Pegula, who will play Amanda Anisimova in a second-straight all-American clash.

Elena Rybakina beat Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-3, while Iga Swiatek ended the fairytale run of the home qualifier Maddison Inglis. The Australian, ranked No168 in the world, was beaten 6-0, 6-3 by the world No2, who is looking to complete the career grand slam in Melbourne.

Lorenzo Musetti beat Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 to set up a mouthwatering last-eight clash with Novak Djokovic, who received a bye after Jakub Mensik withdrew with an abdominal injury. Ben Shelton came from a set down to beat Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. He will play Sinner on Wednesday.

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