World number one Aryna Sabalenka has openly questioned the Australian Open’s decision to ban fitness trackers during matches, saying she does not understand why devices commonly used throughout the tennis season are suddenly prohibited at Grand Slams.
Speaking after being asked to remove her tracker ahead of her first-round match in Melbourne, Sabalenka explained that she believed she had full approval to wear the device. According to her, players had received confirmation from the International Tennis Federation that the fitness bands were allowed.
“The reason why I was wearing that on court is because we received an email saying we got approval from the ITF to wear this device,” Sabalenka said. “I didn’t know that Grand Slams didn’t come to the same conclusion.”
Fitness trackers, including screenless wristbands like WHOOP, are widely used across ATP and WTA tournaments. They collect data on heart rate, physical exertion, stress levels, and recovery, helping players and teams manage performance and health across a demanding season. While these devices are permitted on regular tour events, Grand Slam tournaments currently do not allow them.
“I don’t understand why,” Sabalenka added. “The whole year we are wearing them at WTA tournaments. All the tournaments I play, we wear WHOOP. It’s just for tracking my health.”
She stressed that the devices are not used for gaining a competitive advantage during matches, but rather for reviewing data afterward. Sabalenka also expressed hope that tournament organizers would reconsider their stance and allow players to monitor their health consistently at all levels of competition.
Sabalenka is not alone. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were also affected by the same regulation at this year’s Australian Open. After his fourth-round win, Sinner explained that players are interested in post-match analysis rather than real-time data.
“There is certain data we would like to track a little bit on court,” Sinner said. “It’s not for the live thing. It’s more about what you can see after the match.”
In response, the Australian Open stated that it is involved in ongoing discussions regarding the future use of wearable devices but did not clarify why the trackers are currently not permitted.
At a time when athlete welfare and data-driven performance management are central to elite sport, the debate has raised broader questions about consistency, transparency, and the role of technology in modern tennis. For players like Sabalenka, the issue goes beyond rules—it is about feeling heard, protected, and supported in a sport that demands peak physical and mental health week after week.
