Players on the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour have, since July 15, enjoyed the ATP’s permission to wear certain wearables in competition. This apparent redundancy refers, of course, to fitness trackers, specifically the devices made by StatSports and Catapult.
The data that these wearables generate – heart rate and such – will flow into a central database with a dashboard called “ATP Tennis IQ – Wearables.” The system, says the ATP, “democratises access to match data and insights for players, aiding preparation and recovery.” ATP’s Chief Sporting Officer, Ross Hutchins, adds that it will help “prevent injury” and enable “players to get the very best out of their careers.” The data will be “confidential,” which we presume means available only to individual players and their coaches.
A second phase of the project, scheduled for later this year, will “incorporate next generation insights derived from wearable data and player feedback.”
