Do the Williams sisters and Sharapova distract opponents with their grunting?

Question

I mean how is it fair that spectators have to be quiet, yet players are allowed to make as much noise as they want. I mean you can't even talk, but the players can scream when they hit the ball.

As a recreational tennis player I'm convinced the grunting gives players an advantage. The sound of the ball coming off the racket tell a lot about how the ball was struck and how deep it will land and the kind of spin the ball has.

Answer 1

Yea it does.

Not only does it muffle the sound of the ball off the racket, it distracts the player. I played with this person once and his grunting threw me off SO much. However these guys are professionals so I don't think they mind that much. It's distracting but I doubt it has a huge huge impact on the game.

Answer 2

I truly believe it DOES distract the opponent. Sharapova's scream is actually ridiculous! Plus I once remember Serena scream when doing a drop shot. What the h**l is that about?! I don't believe they do it to purposefully to distract the other player, but I do think it does unintentionally put them off.

Answer 3

They say weight lifters can produce up to 2 percent more force when they grunt. I am sure the same could apply for tennis. I have also often wondered if grunting isn't used for getting the timing right, and yes I believe that these ladies you mention use it for concentration too. I could also see where it would "psyche out" their opponents.

Sharipova is actually the loudest at grunting. She has been measured at 101 decibels, more than any other lady. Unbelievably, that is almost as loud as a police siren heard at close quarters!

As far as it being fair or not, there is no clear rule against it in the rulebook. The umpire can at his or her transgression ask a player to tone it down. I would think it would be a big disadvantage to the ladies who play quietly. But, when you get two "grunters" together, as is the case with the William's sisters this weekend, they probably do not even hear eachother.

I can remember MANY years ago when Steffi Graph complained about Monica Seles at Wimbledon. Monica almost completely turned off the grunting, and lost the match, when she had been dominating prior. Coincidence? I don't know, but it was ironic.

I do recall a few years ago when someone complained about Sharipova at Wimbledon as well. Their coach talked to her coach about it, and she refused to tone it down. It was not ordered by any of the officials. I wish I could recall who she was playing at the time.

Since many of the top females use grunting so effectedly, I often wonder if it won't be "taught" to the up and coming ladies of tennis. Or perhaps these ladies would start doing it because the "greats" before them did it.

Answer 4

it is really annoying when they grunt like that !!! It must put there opponents off surely, its just soooo annoying.

Answer 5

Sharapova should be banned from doing it. Her screams are louder than an ambulence siren... Williams don't grunt as loud as her.

Answer 6

hahahah did you watch the venus and dementieva and it was a tie break and dementieva hit the ball into the net and she screamed

and players zone out grunts cause they here it from them selves

spectators shouldnt make noise because they arent playing i disagree with you

Answer 7

Has any player ever really complained about it? And why is this question always directed at the Ladies? Most of the top men tend to grunt as well. Maybe not as loud as the women are doing it, but they grunt nonetheless.

The only way I can see the grunting affecting an opponents game is if they are distracted by the grunt and it interrupts their concentration while hitting the ball. Apart from that, all this nonsense about the sound of the ball.. blah.. blah... blah... if this was truly an issue then I am sure you would have heard many players complaining about grunting during a point, and if it truly was an issue to the sports governing body, I am sure they would have outlawed it by now!!!

Answer 8

b/c Sharapova is good looking.

But I agree the Williams sisters shouldn't be allowed to do it.

Answer 9

yes but when ur tired, you have to make noise... thats like saying do 5 suisides and dont pant after

Answer 10

Well, when you grunt, you giving off alot of action to create a good reaction on the ball. I grunt sometimes because it hepls me breathe better. I guess it's the case with some maybe not all.

Answer 11

Whenever the match becomes tense believe me it gets noisy both for men and women.  Men tend to be more deep and not as loud listen to Nadal etc.  The women does it more because the game becomes more tense.  Many times they don't even realize it.  If you say the match between Dementieva and Venus.  She screams so loud it almost broke my ear jump.  I do not think it is in tensional even though sometimes distracting.

Answer 12

It's not a matter of "distracting your opponent". If a professional player can be distracted by the vocalizations of their opponent during the match, then in my opinion they deserve to loose. I grunt when I play and I've played opponents that do the same thing. It doesn't bother me and certainly will not distract me enough to loose focus during play. You are focused on your opponent and the ball. The reason why spectators are supposed to remain quite is because a player is not supposed to focus on them and they CAN be real distractions. There is a difference between your opponent grunting on contact with the ball and some random person calling out from the audience during play. You don't think so?

Now I do think that certain players do get carried away with the grunting and take it to another level (especially Maria Sharapova), but for them I think it's more of an annoying, unconscious habit than a deliberate attempt to distract your opponent. If I wanted to distract my opponent with a grunt, then I would loose focus my self and not be paying attention to what I was doing. The reason players grunt is mainly for timing. Grunting ensures that you exhale on contact with the ball and it for some players is also helps you control the ball better and hit harder. It's similar to how you kiap when you strike in martial arts. It's not just to make noise but to help you hit harder and better.

And if you think that grunting players have an unfair advantage (which I don't, but for arguments sake) then all have to do is grunt yourself. That would make it completely fair again. To be perfectly honest, if you told your opponent that their grunting was distracting you and that you'd appreciate it if they toned it down a bit, they would probably look at you like you were crazy before reluctantly complying to the best of their ability. Then a few minutes later they would forget all about that and go back to their natural routine of grunting. It's really not something that you are actively aware of when you are doing it. I never think that I am grunting that loudly when I'm doing it, then I'm embarrassed when 3 people tell me that I was after the match.

Answer 13

I would believe so. They screech so loud that the opponent must be distracted when she's about to hit the ball. I'd find it very annoying if I was playing against Sharapova in a big tournament.

Answer 14

i think they do it on purpose

Answer 15

because of all the effort theyre putting into the ball.  a lot of players do it, and not just in tennis. I know I make a lot of sound when I play volleyball

Answer 16

its the amount of effort they are shooting at!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it takes allot of concentration and drive and focus

Answer 17

It's like you haven't been watching tennis in awhile, and decided to ask this question out of the blue.  We are now in the future, and nearly everyone grunts (male and female).  As a matter of fact, I  watched a Federer match yesterday, and was wondering why he wasn't grunting.  

I've gotten used to it as so many others have.  Not a big deal anymore.

Answer 18

i think it will be cheating if u tried to distract someone but some people make noises when they really try

Answer 19

It keeps them consistent they say. But opponents have complained that they can not hear the different sounds of the ball. Like if they are going ot put slice on the ball. LET THEM GRUNT!

go Venus!!!!!!!! 1 more match!