MELBOURNE – Whoop, the wearable-tech company whose device is banned at the Australian Open, is now trying to get around tournament rules so players can use it in Melbourne — this time by hiding it in their underwear.
“We are sending our Whoop Body collection to all the tennis players at the Australian Open. The sensor can be worn discreetly and effectively in our new undergarments. It’s going to take a strip search to keep Whoop off the court!” said the company’s CEO in a video posted on social media.
The company has reportedly packed boxes of its Whoop Body underwear line with the names of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Aryna Sabalenka on them. The garments are designed with a special pocket that allows the sensor to be inserted, enabling players to track their physical data without difficulty.
“Obviously not checking underwear, will rely on the players’ integrity,” a Tennis Australia representative told CLAY regarding Whoop’s latest plan, adding that the tournament is also looking to lift the current ban on the device: “We are pushing to get this rule changed.”
The move — clearly against the tournament’s regulations — comes after organizers banned players, including some of the sport’s biggest stars, from using the device during matches, despite it being approved by the ITF, ATP, and WTA.
When the controversy erupted on January 25, another Tennis Australia spokesperson explained to CLAY the reasons behind the ban: “Some of these devices provide athletes with an indication of internal load (metrics such as heart rate), giving them a more complete understanding of the work they’re doing and how their bodies respond. Currently, the use of wearable devices is not permitted at Grand Slam tournaments, but the Australian Open is engaged in ongoing discussions about how this situation could change.”
Whoop, which counts Cristiano Ronaldo among its investors, is now looking for ways to make it harder for officials to monitor players — escalating tensions in an issue that indirectly pits the sport’s main governing bodies against each other: the Grand Slams, the ITF, the ATP, and the WTA.
UPDATE: We are overnighting our Whoop Body collection to all the tennis players at the Australian Open. The sensor can be worn discreetly and effectively in our new undergarments. It’s going to take a strip search to keep @whoop off the court!!! pic.twitter.com/PZb6bzly1X
— Will Ahmed (@willahmed) January 28, 2026
Aryna Sabalenka was critical of the ban. “We use it all year at WTA tournaments, so I don’t understand why the Grand Slams don’t allow us to wear it. I hope they reconsider the decision and let players monitor their health indicators,” said the world No. 1, who is one of the brand’s main ambassadors.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, was more cautious: “It’s something that helps you take better care of yourself, to manage rest, training, and workload more effectively… but well, I haven’t been able to use it during matches, it’s fine. You take it off and keep going.”
The Spaniard had to remove the device before his fourth-round match against Tommy Paul, after chair umpire Marija Cicak noticed he was wearing it underneath his wristband.
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