Star’s Bold Move Revealed Amid $3.6B Empire’s Defense of Third Aus Open Ban

The Australian Open has been facing scrutiny this season regarding the use of athlete technology. World No. 2 Jannik Sinner recently experienced this firsthand. Just before his match against Luciano Darderi, an umpire instructed him to remove a WHOOP device hidden under his sweatband.

This incident occurred after fellow player Carlos Alcaraz was similarly asked to discard his device. Earlier in the tournament, Women’s World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also faced a similar situation. The WHOOP device tracks health metrics like sleep and recovery to optimize athletic performance.

WHOOP’s Critique of the Ban

In light of these events, WHOOP released a statement condemning the ban on their devices during Grand Slam events. The company argues that athletes deserve access to their health and performance data even during competition.

• WHOOP is approved by the International Tennis Federation for in-match use.
• The company was valued at $3.6 billion as of August 2021.
• It has gained popularity among elite athletes in various sports.

WHOOP asserts that restricting access to personal health data does not enhance sporting fairness or safety. The statement emphasized their ongoing support for athletes in defending their rights to use performance-tracking technology.

Sinner’s Response and Performance

Despite the disruption, Sinner successfully advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Darderi with a score of 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) in a match lasting just over two hours. In a post-match conference, he shared the details of his encounter with the chair umpire.

Conversation with the Umpire

Sinner recounted, “The umpire asked me straight away if this was a tracker. I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Remove.’ It’s fine.” The athlete noted that while there are alternative tracking devices, he finds them uncomfortable.

Opinions from Former Players

Former Australian tennis player John Millman expressed strong criticism towards the restrictions on WHOOP devices in major tournaments. He acknowledged that the ATP and WTA permit their use, provided that the haptic feedback is disabled.

Millman stated, “I think it’s ridiculous. The ITF have been caught sleeping. They haven’t kept up with the times.”

Future Developments

According to reports, the Australian Open is advocating for the acceptance of tracking devices in Grand Slam events. However, a final decision on this matter has yet to be reached.