A bizarre rules dispute overshadowed the start of Carlos Alcaraz’s fourth-round victory at the Australian Open on Sunday, as the world No. 1 was ordered to remove a banned wearable device just moments before his match began.
During the pre-match warm-up on Rod Laver Arena, chair umpire Marija Cicak spotted a WHOOP fitness-tracking band concealed beneath Alcaraz’s wrist sweatband. Following a brief exchange captured on the world feed, Alcaraz was instructed to remove the device and stow it in his bag.
While the Spaniard complied with a smile and went on to defeat American Tommy Paul in straight sets (7-6, 6-4, 7-5), the incident has sparked a heated debate regarding the consistency of technology regulations in professional tennis.
The Controversy: A Rules Mismatch
The confusion stems from a discrepancy between the rules of the professional tours and those of the Grand Slams.
- ATP & WTA Tours: WHOOP is an official partner of the WTA and is widely permitted during matches to track player recovery and strain.
- Grand Slams (ITF): While the International Tennis Federation (ITF) lists WHOOP as “Approved Player Analysis Technology,” Tennis Australia confirmed on Monday that wearables that transmit real-time data remain restricted at Grand Slams due to concerns over communication and “coaching integrity.”
Alcaraz wasn’t the only star affected; Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner were also reportedly asked to remove their devices during their respective matches earlier in the tournament.
“Data is Not Steroids”
WHOOP founder and CEO Will Ahmed took to social media to blast the decision, calling the ban “ridiculous.”
“WHOOP is approved by the International Tennis Federation for in-match wear and poses no safety risk,” Ahmed posted on X. “Let the athletes measure their bodies. Data is not steroids.”
Tennis legends joined the chorus of criticism. Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt and commentator Todd Woodbridge questioned why players are barred from accessing their own biometric data in an era where in-match coaching is now officially allowed.
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! https://t.co/fC3JX6Vldm
— Will Ahmed (@willahmed) January 25, 2026
Impact on the Court
The equipment drama did little to slow Alcaraz’s momentum. Despite the early distraction, the 22-year-old remains undefeated in sets this fortnight. The victory sets up a high-stakes quarter-final clash against Australian favorite Alex de Minaur.
Have you used any of these fitness-tracking bands? Let us know your thoughts on them in the comments below.
