14 DAY TRIAL // It’s been long since people have grown accustomed to hearing tennis players grunting and making all kinds of loud noises when hitting the ball. While many consider it cheating and cheap intimidation tactics and others have learned to ignore it in favor of the match, the International Tennis Federation may take active steps to ban it because it hinders opponents and has been taken to extremes, the British publication the Daily Mail says.
With Maria Sharapova being the loudest offender of the lot – with a grunt that stands almost as loud as the roar of a lion (with a difference of just nine decibels) – it has become clear that something has to be done to prevent players from putting into sounds the effort that goes into hitting the ball. In this sense, if the umpire deems that players offend or in any way hinder their opponent during a match with the sounds they make, they can be awarded points against them, and even forfeit an entire game or match.
“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.” the Mail writes as to the steps leading to the realization that such a regulation would be welcome.
At the same time, trainers insist that grunting and making noises was never something they taught their pupils in school, but rather something that comes instinctively and grows in proportions (and decibels, some might say) with continuous use. Nevertheless, they too agree that something has to be done because things on the tennis court have reached a noise level that is anything but bearable.
“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. 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.” Nick Bollettieri of the academy in Florida, who schooled Agassi, Sharapova and Seles, is quoted as saying on the issue.