AFP/Peter Muhlyview photoSYDNEY (AFP) - Screaming tennis players are a distraction for opponents and the current crop of female stars have taken the problem to new levels, US legend Chris Evert says.
Number eight seed Victoria Azarenka and Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher de Brito have been at the centre of fevered debate at this year's Wimbledon about the decibel levels during matches.
AFP/Adrian Dennisview photoNow the International Tennis Federation is believed to be considering outlawing such distractions as "noise hindrance" under its code of conduct.
Nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova believes the scream queens are gaining an unfair advantage and Evert, her one-time great rival, agrees with her.
Evert, winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles in the 1970s and 80s, said a particular concern was that the noise from grunters often appeared to increase on key shots.
"Grunting is one thing but the shrill sound that you hear with players nowadays and especially (when) they get louder when they hit a winner, that's the thing that I observe as a player," said Evert, here with golfer husband Greg Norman.
"It comes before they hit the shot. That's the first thing you hear and you are thrown off guard as a player and then before you know the ball gets past you.
"Really, the next time you watch say Maria Sharapova, the grunting is consistent but all of a sudden when she has a set up, she has a winner, the grunting gets louder.
"That's a distraction to me because you are hearing a loud grunt before you see the shot.
"Is it distracting for a player? Yes it is."
Evert, 54, said tennis went through a similar problem with former world number one Monica Seles in the 1990s, but now it is more widespread.
"Because Monica Seles is such a lovely girl, we didn't want to rub it in too much," Evert said.
"But it is distracting when you are hearing this and I think the grunts are getting louder and more shrill now with the current players.
"I don't know how you measure it, I don't know what you do.
Comment 1 - 11 of 11
Of course they use it as a cheating device, anybody with common sense can understand that. If it's so needed in today's power game then how come most players don't do it? Does Roger make any sound at all? No. Does he even sweat?! No. Well I guess he will today, it's too hot!
I would grunt with Ivanovic and day...or NIGHT
It is easy to see that sunday-players and non players have opinions about this. Naturally a grunt mobilises power in the players body,,, as well as in the listeners body. Seldom they complaint about the noise at footboll an other sports, It just that they have something to pour frustation into. I love Sasjarapova and the others the way they are and the complaints are just attempt to favour someone else
cheeers
catshaman
Seles who was ordered not to grunt in the ladies final in 92 was completely blown away by Graf,scoring only 3 games!She was out of the match from second 1, unable to be herself without grunting.Even though it might be annoying at times,they cannot help it,it's part of their game.
I am with Pieter D on this one, not that I know what concurrention means but i get the drift all the same........lol
I don't know why Navratilova and Evert are argueing about this, they can't know a thing about it!
Because when they played (like 15 centuries ago) no-one played with such power as the girls and women do now. So they probably never experienced it and that's why they shouldn't intervene in this discussion! Yes; they both have won a lot of grand slams but I think there was not much concurrention for Navratilova and Evert back in those days.
Hatsuking ROFL! A very sensible idea.
If players were only screaming due to effort and in order to achieve power, as they claim, then why do they scream just as loud for a second serve as they do for a first? That suggests to me that it is a deliberate tactic.
This is good. it keeps us gents attentive. im loving it!
Crissy: Just tell the caterwaul-ers that the WTA understands their need to let out pressure , and that since the skin is the primary human organ whose job it is to releases pressure through condensation (the steam) of bodily chemistry; well, then as a gesture of WTA's sensitivity to this need it will in future require that the screamers, thus addicted, shut their mouths and play their matches in the nude. (I believe that Donney, at least, would be thrilled.) Probably, most of the Ms. Caterwals would want to abide by the rules. .. Very quickly, one would see (and hear) that this "need" is a bogus attention-getting and/or cheating device...Sounds harsh, but a receiving player should be allowed to "hear" a ball as well as "see" it.
My wife & I always look forward to the tennis, but this year is completly spoilt with the unneccessary screaming. when these players start, screaming, we turn the game & or the tennis off. it is offensive to the ears and more so for the poor opponent. About time it was outlawed. I, we, agree the Evert & Navratilova(?).
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