{"id":4515,"date":"2026-05-18T10:09:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/?p=4515"},"modified":"2026-05-18T10:09:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:09:34","slug":"tennis-and-tech-finding-the-balance-between-performance-and-fairness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2026\/05\/18\/tennis-and-tech-finding-the-balance-between-performance-and-fairness\/","title":{"rendered":"Tennis and Tech: Finding the Balance Between Performance and Fairness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The 2026 Australian Open sparked an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/tennis\/articles\/c20zd3vzvxxo\">interesting debate<\/a> around the use of wearable technology to measure and track athletes&#8217; performance on court. While the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women\u2019s Tennis Association have allowed players to use smart watches during competitions, the Grand Slams have shown reluctance over fairness and data concerns.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following athlete protests and pressure from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), the remaining Grand Slam tournaments &#8211; including the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open &#8211; have agreed to trial the use of smart watches, citing the best interests and wellbeing of athletes as the primary motivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smart watches like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whoop.com\/fr\/en\/?srsltid=AfmBOopsiFTZQGPBsqjEGBOnhDb-_fHv8myvQYGVMDhsv5qhWWWUBL-v\">WHOOP<\/a> use sensor technology to assess physical activity, and thanks to the personalisation of the technology, its affordability, and its availability, wearables have become a growing trend. As well as tracking performance, this technology has been proven to improve player safety and fitness, leading to the prevention of injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The growing reliance on technology in sport has heightened concerns surrounding its use. Although smart watches have been granted temporary approval, the best course of action for athletes may be to explore alternative solutions that provide similar benefits without the associated concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are a few alternative technologies that can be considered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Racquet sensors<\/strong>: Sensors embedded in players\u2019 racquets help to track speed and strokes, along with the strength. These racquets provide real-time data to improve athlete performance with the opportunity to monitor the smallest variations during the game.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tracker vests<\/strong>: Two of the ATP-approved brands, STAT Sports and Catapult, make high-grade performance tracking vests for individuals. These devices focus on assessing a number of key metrics for the individual, along with GPS tracking and data-driven insights to assist in athlete progress.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Patches and wristbands<\/strong>: Similar to smart watches, these primarily use biosensors. This technology records heart rate, skin temperature, and provide other crucial physiological analyses, which work to offer data on training load and recovery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Smart balls<\/strong>: With no mainstream applications yet, smart balls demonstrate a high potential for performance analysis. Their sensor technology is far more advanced than many comparable innovations, enabling valuable real-time tracking of factors such as spin, speed, and rotation. This data provides athletes and coaches with deeper insight into ball behaviour and the impact of racquet contact.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Insole sensors<\/strong>: Tennis players are no strangers to injuries, especially those affecting the legs and feet. Insole sensors, embedded within a player\u2019s shoes, are capable of tracking foot pressure, balance, and movement patterns with a high degree of accuracy. This data can help monitor physical strain, improve movement efficiency, and potentially reduce the risk of injury.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond these innovations, technologies such as smart courts and 3D motion sensor devices have continued to mark major milestones in tennis and wider sporting advancements. The rapid growth of the tech industry has led to an equally significant expansion in their applications within sport. However, like most innovations, these technologies also present challenges, including concerns surrounding fairness, data privacy, cost, and accessibility. Rather than imposing a complete ban, the more effective solution would be to optimise the technology and develop a framework for their use, as they influence athlete performance, as well as overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 2026 Australian Open sparked an interesting debate around the use of wearable technology to measure and track athletes&#8217; performance on court. While the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women\u2019s Tennis Association have allowed players to use smart watches during competitions, the Grand Slams have shown reluctance over fairness and data concerns. Following [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":190346150,"featured_media":4520,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1378],"tags":[1372,1370],"class_list":["post-4515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-sport","tag-technology"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfwlnl-1aP","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2098,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2024\/11\/26\/changing-the-game-with-wearable-technology-in-sports\/","url_meta":{"origin":4515,"position":0},"title":"Changing the Game with Wearable Technology in Sports\u00a0","author":"meganchick1","date":"26th November 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The development of wearable tech in the sporting world has revolutionised how athletes train, perform, and prevent injuries. These innovations enable athletes and coaches to gain a competitive edge using detailed data analysis and personalised strategies. From tracking vital signs to analysing movement patterns, wearables have become a vital tool\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Wordpress.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Wordpress.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Wordpress.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Wordpress.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Wordpress.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1661,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2024\/09\/19\/nniish-official-sponsor-of-2025-sports-technology-awards\/","url_meta":{"origin":4515,"position":1},"title":"NNIISH OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF 2025 SPORTS TECHNOLOGY AWARDS","author":"meganchick1","date":"19th September 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The National Network for Innovation In Sport & Health is an official sponsor of the Sports Technology Group's prestigious awards for 2025. We are delighted to announce that we're sponsoring The STA Group's 2025 Sports Technology Awards as part of a multi-year partnership with leading international mark of excellence in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3953,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2026\/01\/27\/swansea-ineos-grenadiers-collaboration-to-help-transform-elite-cycling-talent-identification\/","url_meta":{"origin":4515,"position":2},"title":"Swansea\u2013INEOS Grenadiers collaboration to help transform elite cycling talent identification","author":"meganchick1","date":"27th January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Swansea University has partnered with INEOS Grenadiers to develop cutting-edge data and AI solutions that could revolutionise how emerging talent is identified in professional cycling. The collaboration is led by academics from the University\u2019s Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine (A-STEM) Research Centre, which already works closely with leading sporting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2147,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2024\/12\/11\/sonys-vision-for-ai-wearables-and-data-analytics-in-performance-and-wellbeing\/","url_meta":{"origin":4515,"position":3},"title":"Sony\u2019s Vision for AI, Wearables, and Data Analytics in Performance and Wellbeing","author":"meganchick1","date":"11th December 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"In the ever-evolving world of sports and health, technology is playing a transformative role. We caught up with Rob Wilson, Sony Operations Director, about the intersection of emerging tech, sports, and public health. Discover how these innovations are driving performance, enhancing accessibility, addressing health disparities, and shaping the future of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Wordpress-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Wordpress-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Wordpress-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Wordpress-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Wordpress-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5047,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2026\/07\/08\/exploring-the-future-of-sports-performance-through-simulation\/","url_meta":{"origin":4515,"position":4},"title":"Exploring the Future of Sports Performance Through Simulation","author":"meganchick1","date":"8th July 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Our\u00a0Simulation & Immersive Learning Centre\u00a0(SUSIM) at Swansea University is helping to shape the next generation of athlete development by exploring how immersive simulation technology could transform athlete preparation,\u00a0performance\u00a0and wellbeing. At the centre of this pioneering research is PhD student\u00a0Kieran Hayes, whose work is investigating how the\u00a0SUSIM can be adapted from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Study&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Study","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/case-study\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Wordpress-3-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Wordpress-3-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Wordpress-3-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Wordpress-3-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Wordpress-3-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":562,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2024\/02\/21\/swansea-university-announces-multiyear-partnership-with-hockey-wales\/","url_meta":{"origin":4515,"position":5},"title":"Swansea University Announces Multiyear Partnership with Hockey Wales","author":"meganchick1","date":"21st February 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Swansea University has announced a landmark partnership with\u00a0Hockey Wales, the National Governing Body for hockey in Wales. This new strategic collaboration builds on what is already a positive and committed relationship between the two organisations, rooted in a vision to develop the sport regionally and nationally. Through their shared commitment\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/HockeyWAles.webp?fit=1200%2C567&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/HockeyWAles.webp?fit=1200%2C567&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/HockeyWAles.webp?fit=1200%2C567&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/HockeyWAles.webp?fit=1200%2C567&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/HockeyWAles.webp?fit=1200%2C567&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/190346150"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4515"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4515\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4521,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4515\/revisions\/4521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}