ATP officially prohibits players from using smart watches!



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ATP officially prohibits players from using smart watches!

ATP announced that smart watches are prohibited in any competition (ATP World Tour, ATP Challengers, Grand Slam, Davis Cup and Olympics). 'Electronic devices have not been allowed for use on-court during a match for many years now.

The reasoning behind this is the possibility of communication during a match, thus violating the no coaching rule. Communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach may be construed as coaching.' Why has this decision been taken? 'Smart watches are able to send or receive email and SMS, so they will be covered by the electronic device policy and therefore will not be allowed to be worn during matches'.

So tennis and technology follow two different lines in this case. Around 10 years ago Hawk-Eye was introduced, and the most curious and interesting thing is that on the WTA Tour you can use an iPad in order to see percentage of points, shot speed etc.

and they can see it all with their coaches. On the ATP Tour, this is not possible. Maybe this strategy is a way to show all the tennis fans that the maximum association of the men's tennis players doesn't want to have a technological tennis, at least on the court, since the Babolat PLAY, Nadal's racket for example, can identify the strengths and weaknesses of your game.

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