The grunt stops here: Tennis officials plan crackdown on noisy players

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 6:02 PM on 14th June 2009

 

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A loud grunt as a ball is served down the court has almost become as part of the Wimbledon fabric as strawberries and cream.

But that could all be about to change as tennis officials are considering a ban emitting too much noise.

As it stands players can have a point awarded against them if the umpire feels they have hindered an opponent.

 

Too noisy: Tennis authorities are planning a crackdown on players who grunt on court such as Maria Sharapova

 

However new proposals to make noise hindrance part of the International Tennis Federation's code of conduct, could mean grunters could potentially forfeit a whole game or match.

 

One of the loudest offenders is Maria Sharapova, who at 101 decibels is almost as loud as a lion's 110 decibel roar.

Monica Seles is not far behind with her groans reaching 93.2 decibels.

In last month's French open, Aravane Rezai complained to the umpire about the noise emitting from 16-year-old player Michelle Larcher de Brito.

 

Enlarge Complaints: An opponent said Michelle Larcher de Brito's loud grunts at the French Tennis Open were distracting

 

 

THE GRUNTERS, IN DECIBELS

 

 

• Lion's roar 110
  
• Maria Sharapova 101
  
• Monica Seles 93.2
  
• Serena Williams 88.9
  
• Lindsay Davenport 88
  
• Venus Williams 85
  
• Victoria Azarenka 83.5
  
• Elena Bovina 81
  
• Anna Kournikova 78.5
  
• Kim Clijsters 75
  
• Elena Dementieva 73
  

 

Nick Bollettieri of the academy in Florida which schooled Larcher de Brito as well as Seles, Sharapova and Agassi insists he does not train his players to make noise.

The 77-year-old told The Sunday Times: 'My staff and I have never taught grunting.

'We have always taught the proper way to breathe in and out. Players grunt because it helps them release energy and keep focused.

 

'It is something that they do naturally. It isn’t something that is done deliberately to hurt their opponents.'

He agreed that something needs to be done to govern the level of noise on the courts: 'There is a need for some sort of regulation. Players on both the men’s and women’s tours grunt. Something eventually needs to be done.'

So Shrek is the second-biggest "active" grunter......................... :rolleyes:

 

THE GRUNTERS, IN DECIBELS

 

 

• Lion's roar 110
  
• Maria Sharapova 101
  
• Monica Seles 93.2
  
• Serena Williams 88.9
  
• Lindsay Davenport 88
  
• Venus Williams 85
  
• Victoria Azarenka 83.5
  
• Elena Bovina 81
  
• Anna Kournikova 78.5
  
• Kim Clijsters 75
  
• Elena Dementieva 73'

:o

 

Russians and Americans grunt a lot. :confused:

 

 

Priceless.

Aww 'Pova wouldn't be the same without her roars.

I love how they compare the players to a lion.

I'd love them to have a decibel meter on court that beeps whenever someone grunts too loud, resulting in a lost point. Strange that they don't list the loudest male grunters. Anyone ever notice that Federer is dead silent. :stunned:

I'd love them to have a decibel meter on court that beeps whenever someone grunts too loud, resulting in a lost point. Strange that they don't list the loudest male grunters. Anyone ever notice that Federer is dead silent. :stunned:

 

Which just goes to show that grunting is totally unnecessary.;)

Not really, it just proves that Federer is so graceful.

 

There are different styles of play and there are different people. Grunting would not suit Federer's Personality or his play, Nadal however, completely suits him.

I think that more than grunting, Nadal moans. I don't know.

 

I'd love them to have a decibel meter on court that beeps whenever someone grunts too loud, resulting in a lost point. Strange that they don't list the loudest male grunters. Anyone ever notice that Federer is dead silent. :stunned:

 

That would be so funny :P

Not really, it just proves that Federer is so graceful.

 

There are different styles of play and there are different people. Grunting would not suit Federer's Personality or his play, Nadal however, completely suits him.

 

Complete rubbish. If players start getting disqualified for grunting, just see how quickly they all stop doing it. That will be proof enough that it's merely a habit.;)

It's not that bad, you don't need earplugs like motorsport.

It's not that bad, you don't need earplugs like motorsport.

 

True, but engines and noise go hand-in-hand............................ :rolleyes:

I don't really see the issue in tennis to tell the truth, its been going on for ages so it seems pointless to try and make people alter how they play.

*looks at the list*

only woman listed there....

sexist thing :inquisitive:

 

why no males there?

do they don't grunt?

what about when they smash their racket? :huh: don't that's worst?

*looks at the list*

only woman listed there....

sexist thing :inquisitive:

 

why no males there?

do they don't grunt?

what about when they smash their racket? :huh: don't that's worst?

 

Women's screaming is more ear-piercing as it's higher-pitched.

Players already get warnings for smashing rackets.;)

Any noise during a rally can be off-putting. It affects concentration.

 

;)

 

I don't really see the issue in tennis to tell the truth, its been going on for ages so it seems pointless to try and make people alter how they play.

Women's screaming is more ear-piercing as it's higher-pitched.

Players already get warnings for smashing rackets.;)

 

I recently noticed that men moan, they scream less than women ._.

Women's screaming is more ear-piercing as it's higher-pitched.

Players already get warnings for smashing rackets.;)

yeah yeah excuses :rolleyes:

 

and they shouldn't get warnings, they should get something worst, is not nice to smash rackets. :shame:

yeah yeah excuses :rolleyes:

 

and they shouldn't get warnings, they should get something worst

 

Execution??:stunned:

no, but well something more serious than just a warning, a warning don't get they stop smashing their rackets :dozey:

no, but well something more serious than just a warning, a warning don't get they stop smashing their rackets :dozey:

 

Yes, because you can lose a point the second time and then be disqualified.;)