Australian Open 2026: Debate erupts after Carlos Alcaraz caught breaking rule with banned item

Tennis fans and commentators are once again questioning the rules at the Australian Open after World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz was asked to remove an item that is ambiguously banned during his fourth-round win on Sunday. Alcaraz beat 19th seed Tommy Paul 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 7-5, setting up a quarter-final showdown with Aussie Alex de Minaur.

De Minaur later dispatched 10th seed Alexander Bublik 6-4 6-1 6-1 in just an hour and 32 minutes. It was one of the finest performances in the World No.6's career, and sent a message to Alcaraz that he won't be a pushover.

On Sunday afternoon, Alcaraz was troubled by Paul as the Spanish star was pushed all the way by his American opponent. And Alcaraz was troubled before the match even started when he was asked to remove his 'Whoop' fitness band.

A 'Whoop' is a screen-less health tracking device that allows wearers to monitor sleep, heart rate and physical output. Athletes wear them to help with recovery after competing, and Alcaraz had been wearing his under a sweat band on his right wrist throughout the tournament.

But he was asked to remove it on Sunday in the fourth round - the first time officials had seemingly noticed he was wearing it. The device is allowed on the ATP and WTA tours, and 'Whoop' is actually an official partner of the WTA.

But they're banned under ITF (International Tennis Federation) rules - which are used at the grand slams - unless a player gets pre-approval. The sticking point is that a Whoop can transmit data during play, which officials aren't so keen on.

Tennis world question why Carlos Alcaraz had to remove Whoop

But debate has erupted amongst tennis fans and commentators as to why they're not allowed. Many pointed out on Sunday that mid-match coaching is now allowed, arguing there shouldn't be any concerns with how data is transmitted from a wearable device.

Bu the obvious concerns are that wearable devices might be used at times when coaching isn't permitted, such as during changeovers. Officials are likely wary of coaches having access to data about their players' physical output during matches, which might be seen as an unfair advantage over a player who isn't wearing one.

But Aussie legend Todd Woodbridge declared on Channel 9 on Monday that rules banning wearable devices "don't make sense". He asked: "Why shouldn't athletes be allowed to track their own data?" Woodbridge also questioned why the ITF rules are different to those on the ATP and WTA tours.

One fan wrote online: "A weird and nonsense decision considering it's just a tool that helps players monitor their physical condition." Another person wrote: "Tennis rules still living in 2010 while every other sport tracks recovery like it's 2026."

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