Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
TL;DR Tennis players at the Australian Open, including Alcaraz and Sabalenka, were instructed by umpires to remove under-wrist WHOOP trackers during matches, despite previous tournament allowances.
The ITF has approved various models of the WHOOP tracker for match use so long as haptic feedback is disabled, but Grand Slam events can impose additional rules independently.
WHOOP responded by sending its Body apparel collection, which conceals the tracker within undergarments, to players, though using them still risks violating competition regulations.
WHOOP makes one of the most interesting fitness trackers around, focusing entirely on strain, recovery, and long-term performance rather than on-wrist features, to the point that it does not even have a display. It’s a niche device that works out well for athletes who want deeper insights into their bodies. Of late, WHOOP has landed in some unforeseen controversy during a tennis tournament, and the company has wittingly responded by sending players… underwear?
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During the ongoing Australian Open tennis tournament, several players, including men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz and women’s number one Aryna Sabalenka, were asked by umpires to remove their WHOOP trackers from under their sweatbands.
In today’s AO match, Umpire asked Alcaraz to remove his whoop watch 🤯 All the athletes across sports use whoop as a tracking device and use the data in their recovery Why are tennis players not allowed to wear tracking devices.. pic.twitter.com/h7xMw8UAHY — SK (@Djoko_UTD) January 25, 2026
Tennis players participating in previous tournaments like ATP and WTA have been allowed to wear a WHOOP tracker during matches, so this is a curious change. WHOOP founder and CEO Will Ahmed responded on X, saying that the International Tennis Federation has approved WHOOP for in-match wear and that it poses no safety risk.
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