Rule change about grunts...

Mark-Touch

Mark-Touch

G.O.A.T.
I was watching a match today and a commentator talked very briefly about a new rule being implemented at this
year's U.S. Open concerning grunts etc.

Have any of you heard about it?

A search hasn't turned up much but I did see this:

"This year introduces notable rule changes. For the first time in Grand Slam history, a new video review system will be in place for double bounces. Prior to this year, double bounces were not reviewable, leaving the decision solely to the chair umpire’s view in real-time. This new rule aims to bring more accuracy and fairness to these decisions.

Each player, in both singles and doubles competitions, will be allotted three challenges per set. If the player’s challenge is successful, they do not lose it. Players can use these challenges to contest various incidents during a match. This includes double bounces, a ball touching a player’s body, a ball touching the net, and hindrance due to noise.

Could this be the start of something big?
 
Mark-Touch said:
I was watching a match today and a commentator talked very briefly about a new rule being implemented at this
year's U.S. Open concerning grunts etc.

Have any of you heard about it?

A search hasn't turned up much but I did see this:

"This year introduces notable rule changes. For the first time in Grand Slam history, a new video review system will be in place for double bounces. Prior to this year, double bounces were not reviewable, leaving the decision solely to the chair umpire’s view in real-time. This new rule aims to bring more accuracy and fairness to these decisions.

Each player, in both singles and doubles competitions, will be allotted three challenges per set. If the player’s challenge is successful, they do not lose it. Players can use these challenges to contest various incidents during a match. This includes double bounces, a ball touching a player’s body, a ball touching the net, and hindrance due to noise.

Could this be the start of something big?
Click to expand...
We already argued the noise part - it has to be proven to be intentional, and therefore you can make as much noise as you want whenever you want because you can't enter my mind and see what my intent was - or the judge has discretion to determine if intent was there or judge has discretion to determine what makes sense.
 
The premise behind the grunt is to be an exhale that tightens the core so you get more power. Listen to a boxing or UFC fight. they all do the breathing out when punching so that A. they get more power when striking, and B. they tense up so that a hit back doesn't get them winded if hit in the chest/diaphram. They almost never make an audible sound ( except for the women fighters for some reason ). It goes to show you that an audible grunt is absolutely unnecessary in tennis. BUT... lets say fine, the grunt is acceptable, then a grunt lasting as long as it takes for the ball to travel from the grunter to the recipient is way passed the point it takes to tighten the core muscles. It "may" not be intentional, but it certainly is a lack of breathing control and lazy behaviour to not control onselves actions, thus leading to the hindrance.
 
Mark-Touch said:
I was watching a match today and a commentator talked very briefly about a new rule being implemented at this
year's U.S. Open concerning grunts etc.

Have any of you heard about it?

A search hasn't turned up much but I did see this:

"This year introduces notable rule changes. For the first time in Grand Slam history, a new video review system will be in place for double bounces. Prior to this year, double bounces were not reviewable, leaving the decision solely to the chair umpire’s view in real-time. This new rule aims to bring more accuracy and fairness to these decisions.

Each player, in both singles and doubles competitions, will be allotted three challenges per set. If the player’s challenge is successful, they do not lose it. Players can use these challenges to contest various incidents during a match. This includes double bounces, a ball touching a player’s body, a ball touching the net, and hindrance due to noise.

Could this be the start of something big?
Click to expand...
I knew this , there was also thread, but board is clogged by nostalgia fans meaningless irrelevant to the current tennis threads.

I was wondering who will ask var CH for noise ?
I thought Zapata Miralles grunt was kind of bearable, but stadium is big ... Haven't watched Sabalenka, Alcaraz yet. Did they tone down screeching? Anyone?

I saw Mutet double bounce against Murray was challenged but var failed tough
 
tjanev said:
The premise behind the grunt is to be an exhale that tightens the core so you get more power. Listen to a boxing or UFC fight. they all do the breathing out when punching so that A. they get more power when striking, and B. they tense up so that a hit back doesn't get them winded if hit in the chest/diaphram. They almost never make an audible sound ( except for the women fighters for some reason ). It goes to show you that an audible grunt is absolutely unnecessary in tennis. BUT... lets say fine, the grunt is acceptable, then a grunt lasting as long as it takes for the ball to travel from the grunter to the recipient is way passed the point it takes to tighten the core muscles. It "may" not be intentional, but it certainly is a lack of breathing control and lazy behaviour to not control onselves actions, thus leading to the hindrance.
Click to expand...
No it's not a lack of breathing control nor lazy behavior.
When the grunt STARTS after the ball has gone over the net and continues when the opponent is hitting the ball, in is intentional.
 
There needs to be something done about Sabalenka. It is hindering the viewer even! Can't imagine being Anisimova out there today.
 
AndrewUtz said:
There needs to be something done about Sabalenka. It is hindering the viewer even! Can't imagine being Anisimova out there today.
Click to expand...
Agreed, and I find everything about her (on court, and sometimes off) obnoxious and offensive -- though she's a great player.

I would love to see an opponent hit a normal shot and then scream at the top of her lungs when it's on Saba's side of the net.
If they call a hindrance, tell the umpire that they need to call that every time on Saba.
(Probably won't work, but...)
 
RaulRamirez said:
Agreed, and I find everything about her (on court, and sometimes off) obnoxious and offensive -- though she's a great player.

I would love to see an opponent hit a normal shot and then scream at the top of her lungs when it's on Saba's side of the net.
If they call a hindrance, tell the umpire that they need to call that every time on Saba.
(Probably won't work, but...)
Click to expand...
What kills me about so many of these... "violators" I guess... is that despite competing at the highest levels of our sport, they're held to lower standards of conduct than the high school kids I've been coaching for over twenty years. Tolerating this turd behavior only diminishes the game, but the powers that be haven't figured out that this crap is bad for business.

I know what you mean in terms of Sabalenka's abilities, but she's also purposely crossing the line with her perpetual hindrance. I believe that great players respect the rules and embrace them. She doesn't.

A few years ago, Martina commented on the general issue of excessive noise and I think she nailed it. Hit them in their wallets. Dock them points during matches or fine them and it will stop. The folks running the tournaments just need to decide to be the adults.
 
fuzz nation said:
What kills me about so many of these... "violators" I guess... is that despite competing at the highest levels of our sport, they're held to lower standards of conduct than the high school kids I've been coaching for over twenty years. Tolerating this turd behavior only diminishes the game, but the powers that be haven't figured out that this crap is bad for business.

I know what you mean in terms of Sabalenka's abilities, but she's also purposely crossing the line with her perpetual hindrance. I believe that great players respect the rules and embrace them. She doesn't.

A few years ago, Martina commented on the general issue of excessive noise and I think she nailed it. Hit them in their wallets. Dock them points during matches or fine them and it will stop. The folks running the tournaments just need to decide to be the adults.
Click to expand...
They should of done it when Sabalenka or anybody else from the WTA/ATP when they were virtual unknowns.

They won't dare to penalize any of these players when they're at the Top of their Game.

That rule is like when NHL Playoffs referees stops calling for Penalties especially in Overtime.
 
fuzz nation said:
What kills me about so many of these... "violators" I guess... is that despite competing at the highest levels of our sport, they're held to lower standards of conduct than the high school kids I've been coaching for over twenty years. Tolerating this turd behavior only diminishes the game, but the powers that be haven't figured out that this crap is bad for business.

I know what you mean in terms of Sabalenka's abilities, but she's also purposely crossing the line with her perpetual hindrance. I believe that great players respect the rules and embrace them. She doesn't.

A few years ago, Martina commented on the general issue of excessive noise and I think she nailed it. Hit them in their wallets. Dock them points during matches or fine them and it will stop. The folks running the tournaments just need to decide to be the adults.
Click to expand...
I still have to give Saba here due as as a great player and competitor, but if sports reveals people's character, I think she's the lowest of the low.
 
RaulRamirez said:
Agreed, and I find everything about her (on court, and sometimes off) obnoxious and offensive -- though she's a great player.

I would love to see an opponent hit a normal shot and then scream at the top of her lungs when it's on Saba's side of the net.
If they call a hindrance, tell the umpire that they need to call that every time on Saba.
(Probably won't work, but...)
Click to expand...
Robin Haase tried this move and was called out by the umpire

 
jm1980 said:
Robin Haase tried this move and was called out by the umpire

Click to expand...
I had seen that once or twice...and the umpire blew the call.
(Who ended up winning that point?)
I still think it's worth a shot on a somewhat expendable point...and make it even more exaggerated!
 
RaulRamirez said:
I still have to give Saba here due as as a great player and competitor, but if sports reveals people's character, I think she's the lowest of the low.
Click to expand...
I hear you.

It's a different sort of thing when these people are competing for a LOT of money every week. Because of that, some are going to do whatever they can get away with to get an edge, but that diminishes their achievements when they do.

I'm no fan of the one-dimensional play style of "baseline batting practice" that's taken over most of the WTA and Sabalenka is quite a dingbat, but I know that I might occasionally give her a thumbs up if she could earn her wins without pushing her luck with the hindrance.
 
Soul_Evisceration said:
They should of done it when Sabalenka or anybody else from the WTA/ATP when they were virtual unknowns.

They won't dare to penalize any of these players when they're at the Top of their Game.

That rule is like when NHL Playoffs referees stops calling for Penalties especially in Overtime.
Click to expand...
BOOM!!

The NHL Playoffs are already awesome. It's absurd how they generally wait for somebody to commit a felony out there before they actually call anything. That puts those players at way too much risk when everybody's already "going Mach 2 with their hair on fire". Gotta save the players from themselves and preserve the product to some degree.

I also agree - just make the standard the standard. The urgency of a big moment in a match or playoff game doesn't need a different standard of officiating. It's already a big deal. Using different rules just undermines the achievements.
 
As i've said before, the only way i can stomach Saba playing is when i have the TV on mute. The grunting rule should be simple. If your "grunt" lasts longer than the ball you hit passing the net then it's hindrance. It's such a high pitched grunt that just drags on.
 
GvgcvbMX0AAw-3F
It’s not just guessing anymore. She needs to be stopped, may I remind you decibels are logarithmic as well. So 5db up is SIGNIFICANTLY louder than even the next closest person. Typical Rock concert is around 110db.

Sabalenka needs to be stopped.
 
AndrewUtz said:
GvgcvbMX0AAw-3F
It’s not just guessing anymore. She needs to be stopped, may I remind you decibels are logarithmic as well. So 5db up is SIGNIFICANTLY louder than even the next closest person. Typical Rock concert is around 110db.

Sabalenka needs to be stopped.
Click to expand...
5 Db louder than Masha and 9 louder than Azarenka is diabolical work. Simply impossible to stand.
 
The problem with Sabalenka is her grunts/screams have like 20+ variations - high pitch, low pitch, growl, scream, squeal, moan, short, long, extended... and then some strokes comes with complete silence. Even simple put away volleys are accompanied by obnoxious loud screams.

I can tune out the screams of Sharapova, Azarenka, Serena etc because their grunts/screams are pretty much consistent aside from a few points here and there. You eventually get used to it.

With Sabalenka, there's just no rhythm. It's all over the place and extremely infuriating to watch/listen.

Shelton kinda does the same but with much less variations and definitelt not as loud. Very annoying though when he grunts one stroke and then next stroke no grunt at all. He's still very much tolerable for me compared to Sabalenka.
 
Remember when nadal told sonego to stop grunting so late at AO? I thought the rule was when the ball passes your side of the court, it is considered a hindrance. Sonego was still screaming when the ball was landing on nadal's side.

Side note: I was watching a doubles match on an outside court, and I could hear azarenka screaming from another court, haha.
 
Yesterday's match was the worst. Sabalenka would yell her Amazonian yell when she was frustrated in between points and the Amazonian yell when she felt like she did something momentous. Those should be treated the same as smashing rackets.

She has this two syllable grunt (aahh, ehhhhhhh), where the second syllable crescendo, and she can extend it as long as she wants often being disruptive to the other player. They need to get her to cut off that second portion of her grunt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
VAR premiering at US Open
Replies
17
Views
1K
Purestriker
Purestriker
Gut4Tennis
How about a new rule?
Replies
29
Views
3K
tacou
tacou
Rattie
New Heat Rule for 2026 by the ATP
Replies
11
Views
905
smoledman
smoledman
R
Monfils complains about 25 sec rule during match
Replies
17
Views
3K
catspaw
C
O
Change the rule!!
Replies
8
Views
674
Goof
G
Back
Top