Thread: Carry on Screaming

Originally Posted by jimbur

Screaming at the tennis that is. How long before the tennis authorities clamp down on players who scream/shriek whenever they hit a ball? Thank goodness there is a mute button.

Yes this has gone on too long. In many cases it is simple intimidation of the opponent - and it is an absolute pain to hear - every single shot!

Thank goodness it's not a Sharapova - Azarenka final I thought a couple of years ago someone said they were banning players under a certain age doing it so we still have to put up with the current crop.

Originally Posted by mic-d

Thank goodness it's not a Sharapova - Azarenka final I thought a couple of years ago someone said they were banning players under a certain age doing it so we still have to put up with the current crop.

I heard on the radio the other day that the young players (at least in Aust) coming through the ranks are being 'taught' not to do it.

Although I hat e it, I can kind of understand it sometimes. grunting as you put in a massive effort to swing the raquet and hit the ball is kind of understandable. However, some of them (I think Sharapova) the timing is swing, hit the ball then grunt. The ball is usually over the net before the grunt.

Hate it...

Originally Posted by Avery

However, some of them (I think Sharapova) the timing is swing, hit the ball then grunt. The ball is usually over the net before the grunt.

Hate it...

Yes hate it too. Watch Ferrer and his grunt happens almost always when the ball lands in the opponents court, I don't get it.

I simply stopped watching those matches years ago, even with the TV muted I can still hear Sharapova.

There are physiological advantages to control breathing during stroke play however this can be done without the squeal/grunt in most cases. At the elite level there is also a significant advantage where the sound of the shot off the raquet is masked. A slice/top spin/flat ball all sound very different to an experienced ear and when fractions of percentages make a difference, a moments distraction after a shot can be the difference between point won or lost.

I don't like it but I can't see how it can be removed from the game. There have been a number of cases where squealers have been boo'd off court after a game and quite often you will hear Australian fans squealing between points to note their disapproval

Originally Posted by jimbur

Screaming at the tennis that is. How long before the tennis authorities clamp down on players who scream/shriek whenever they hit a ball? Thank goodness there is a mute button.

I used to be very troubled by such antics. I don't watch tennis habitually anymore, but I have found that when I do, I just switch off to it and don't even have to resort the mute button.

I think Sharapova may have been the first of the grunters, but I expect somebody will correct me on that. I suspect that she is a very measured person and everything is deliberate and has a purpose. Initially it may well have been designed to upset her opponents, but I doubt that is true now as they will all be immune to the antic. She can probably no more stop the noise now than a player who bounces the ball before serving can stop that habit. Excessive bouncing of the ball used to annoy me too. It didn't used to take much .

I have found myself wondering on occasions whether tennis is the only activity where Sharapova makes such outbursts... weight training is another that springs to mind, but not my first thought.

I was surfing the channels last night and saw a little of the Federer - Tsonga match. Tsonga is a grunter too, although I confess I didn't find myself wondering if he confined this to tennis.

Professional athletes are always looking for an edge. When Muhammed Ali was still Cassius Clay people watched his fights to see him get smacked in the mouth to shut him up. It was only later on that he gained the legend status. Even the chess players for a while resorted to "tactics." I don't condone any of it. It's just how it is.

Mic-d's comment is interesting that the authorities are discouraging the "grunt." If too many people switch off, it becomes self defeating.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

...
I think Sharapova may have been the first of the grunters, but I expect somebody will correct me on that....

Monica Seles

I've got no respect for Azarenka after today. Not gamesmanship, blatant cheating. Add to that the grunting and she's treading a VERY fine line.

Imagine if Eddie Charlton had grunted every time he struck the cue ball . (maybe I'm showing my age )

Have always followed the tennis - that is - up until the era of the grunter / squealer / whiner / groaner etc.

Have tried to watch with the sound off - my mind is obviously too clever as I can now imagine the above. I do understand the expelling of air when a great physical effort is made, however, to achieve the maximum effort a squeal, grunt, groan, whine etc is not necessary and I view it as a totally selfish act. It also sets an extremely poor example for the future of the sport.

It is perhaps the most pure form / blatant intimidation exemplar of unsportsman [/woman or person if you wish] like behaviour. The rules are supposed to make it fair and honorable for all - I must be missing something.

Want to cure it = easy

first offence = loss of point
second offence = loss of game
third offence = loss of set
fourth offence = DQ

simple as that - I have been generous in that it is not 3 strikes and you are out.

Should this be too harsh [this is for the bleeding hearts who follow the anything to win principle] then add one step before the first offence - a warning. This would bring it to 5 steps in all - more than generous to the players and would be an absolute gift to the audience.

Originally Posted by Grumpy John

Imagine if Eddie Charlton had grunted every time he struck the que ball . (maybe I'm showing my age )

Hurricane Higgins might have been up for it. I think he was frowned upon anyway.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Scott

I've got no respect for Azarenka after today. Not gamesmanship, blatant cheating. Add to that the grunting and she's treading a VERY fine line.

Agreed Scott. Watching a replay tonight, I also noticed that her long drawn out noises seemed to be cut short if the ball hit the net, otherwise they continued until after it hit the court. That fits in with what Corbs was saying.