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ARTICLE · 04 FEBRUARY 2026

The Ban On Bands: Australian Open Sparks Debate On Biometric Data

Controversy erupted at the 2026 Australian Open tennis tournament this week after match umpires instructed World No. 1s Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, as well as World No. 2 Jannik Sinner...

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Controversy erupted at the 2026 Australian Open tennis tournament this week after match umpires instructed World No. 1s Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, as well as World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, to remove their WHOOP devices ahead of their matches.

Launched in 2015, WHOOP's screenless wristbands have become a staple for professional athletes across various sports seeking to track their health and fitness during competition, training and downtime. Worn by the likes of LeBron James, Christian Ronaldo and Rory McIlroy, the devices provide the wearer with crucial biometric data in real-time, including blood oxygenation, heart rate variability, skin temperature, sleep performance and more. WHOOP analyzes these inputs to generate "Recovery" and "Strain" scores, which indicate readiness for exertion and overall stress levels, respectively. Access to this data allows athletes to make informed decisions and assists with enhancing their performance, optimizing their recovery

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