The shrieking has got to stop.

[sbmackie]

Can't stand it any longer. Not watching any match that has a player male or female who's vocalizations extend beyond the "effort grunt" and carry over after the ball is on the other side of the net. ATP/WTA/USTA, grow some and put some muzzles on these clowns and clownettes.

Is it not true that the code prevents distracting vocals when the ball is on your opponents side of the net?

Yeah, I get it...some of the shriekers/moaners/grunters sell tickets. But if they can't squeal/grunt/moan for three seconds, they'll still sell tickets.

 

[kabob]

Seriously, no one is forcing you to watch. Y'all sure do like to complain for the sake of complaining.

 

[fedtennisphan]

Can't stand it any longer. Not watching any match that has a player male or female who's vocalizations extend beyond the "effort grunt" and carry over after the ball is on the other side of the net. ATP/WTA/USTA, grow some and put some muzzles on these clowns and clownettes.

Is it not true that the code prevents distracting vocals when the ball is on your opponents side of the net?

Yeah, I get it...some of the shriekers/moaners/grunters sell tickets. But if they can't squeal/grunt/moan for three seconds, they'll still sell tickets.

No player worth their salt is distracted by their opponent grunting. I am watching Sharapova and Sevastova now. I don't see any grunting by Sharapova being distracting to Sevastova.

 

[NothingButNet]

Can't stand it any longer. Not watching any match that has a player male or female who's vocalizations extend beyond the "effort grunt" and carry over after the ball is on the other side of the net.

Guys at Nielsen saying their prayers in 3...2...1....

 

[Tuskarr]

They should turn the volume down for the on court mic. I watched garbine in person in Cincinnati and it was barely noticeable

 

[Agassi-Fan]

I don't think it's distracting....I think it's just annoying. I enjoy Sharapovas's game, but I usually keep the TV on mute because after a while it does get a little old with the constant shrieking.

 

[JacksonColt]

 

[TheAverageFedererFan]

They should ban excessive grunting. How about using a decibal meter.

 

[Sardines]

Well there was a study done and the "grunting" does allow a player to 2-3% hit harder, but it also affected the opponent. Personally it's annoying but that's why I don't watch Sharapova or all the other screamers. I think the more egregious act is the time taken between points. That just takes away from the enjoyment of the game.

 

[VarmasPermo]

Good job Kvitova destroying and sending another screamer out of Flushing Meadows. Garbige Mug out.

 

[Fedinkum]

I keep my Tv down when I watch Sharapova plays...dont want grandma in the bedroom to think I am watching porn 3pm in the morning....


...or am I....

 

[AllCourtHeathen]

The screaming and shrieking makes the wta unwatchable for me. It really needs to be phased out.

 

[Noelan]

Mugurusa shrieking AA indoors was just horrible

 

[jaggy]

Seriously, no one is forcing you to watch. Y'all sure do like to complain for the sake of complaining.

Or listen

 

[MasturB]

Mugurusa shrieking AA indoors was just horrible

That's not a shriek. That's a moan.

It actually sounds a lot more normal than Sharapova or Vika.

When I saw Sharapova practices and doesn't grunt (even when hitting hard), lost all respect for her even before drug test.

 

[Raindogs]

That's not a shriek. That's a moan.

It actually sounds a lot more normal than Sharapova or Vika.

When I saw Sharapova practices and doesn't grunt (even when hitting hard), lost all respect for her even before drug test.

It's amazing that no "reporter" has had the balls to ask her that question over the years, why no noise in practice and yet anguished warlike screams in a match?
Spineless sycophants, the whole lot of them.

 

[Noelan]

That's not a shriek. That's a moan.

It actually sounds a lot more normal than Sharapova or Vika.

When I saw Sharapova practices and doesn't grunt (even when hitting hard), lost all respect for her even before drug test.

I didn't compared her to Shara/Aza just noticed how loud and annoying she was to my ears last night. Shriek, grunt, moan, whatever..
Maybe it has something to do with player breathing rhytm and concentration on actual points during the match .. I don't know ..
I think we can blame Seles ( I 'm a fan but still)

 

[MasturB]

Just curious, were you at AA yesterday?

Or were you just saying over the TV?

 

[TennisATP]

I didn't compared her to Shara/Aza just noticed how loud and annoying she was to my ears last night. Shriek, grunt, moan, whatever..
Maybe it has something to do with player breathing rhytm and concentration on actual points during the match .. I don't know ..
I think we can blame Seles ( I 'm a fan but still)

I love Seles and I love grunting. It adds excitement and intensity to the rallies. For Monica it came naturally, but for most players after her it's almost as if they emulated her and are doing it on purpose. Sharapova for example sounds as if she's screaming not grunting.

 

[Noelan]

Just curious, were you at AA yesterday?

Or were you just saying over the TV?

From TV,I do not like to turn off the tone because I like to hear sound of the ball.
The noise at AA def sounds louder than prev years

 

[MasturB]

From TV,I do not like to turn off the tone because I like to hear sound of the ball.
The noise at AA def sounds louder than prev years

Everything on AA has been muted on tv.

The balls being struck, grunts, etc have all been toned down on TV. Not sure if it's espn mics but the acoustics have definitely changed.

 

[Noelan]

I love Seles and I love grunting. It adds excitement and intensity to the rallies. For Monica it came naturally, but for most players after her it's almost as if they emulated her and are doing it on purpose. Sharapova for example sounds as if she's screaming not grunting.

It's Ok , grunts rarely bothers me ,but this time I was particularly annoyed for some reason

 

[Noelan]

Everything on AA has been muted on tv.

The balls being struck, grunts, etc have all been toned down on TV. Not sure if it's espn mics but the acoustics have definitely changed.

I'm with Rafa here

 

[RF-18]

I wanted to watch Sharapova play again, and I watched her for a couple of games against Sofia Kenin, but couldn't continue. It seems to me that it has gotten worse over the years and it is up to the point were that stuff should be called hindrance and point penalty. I can't stand it.

Sharapovas shrieking has become a norm, people have gotten used to it, but imagine if someone who never grunts, suddenly screams like a mad man at ball contact and meanwhile the ball is traveling to the opponent (cause there aren't no rules for how loud you are allowed to be, so basically you can scream how loud you want). I'm positive that it would be called a hindrance on that player.

And of what I know, Sharapova never grunts during practice. So it all just seems as gamesmanship for me.

 

[robbo1970]

I think the shrieking has become laughable, to the point I find it funny.

It's obviously not effort related.....who shrieks or grunts when playing a chipped approach shot or a drop shot. Whether it's meant to put off the opponent or just some weird habit, it'll continue until an official cites it as interference.

 

[Shaolin]

People have been calling for an end to the shrieking for 10+ years. It'll never stop.

 

[Long Face]

It must stop. But how…?

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

That's not a shriek. That's a moan.

It actually sounds a lot more normal than Sharapova or Vika.

When I saw Sharapova practices and doesn't grunt (even when hitting hard), lost all respect for her even before drug test.

Noticeable courtside on Friday night was when the 1st set against Kenin got tighter, . Sharapova's "hooo's!" turned into clearly louder (and longer) "agggrahh's!!!"

She's full of spit.​

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Thought I'd seen my last Screechapalooza a few years back. Sadly... a fresh one was in the queue for an ATP match here at the USO. The house of horrors that just won't quit.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

@RF-18

When I saw Sharapova practices and doesn't grunt (even when hitting hard), lost all respect for her even before drug test.

It's amazing that no "reporter" has had the balls to ask her that question over the years, why no noise in practice and yet anguished warlike screams in a match?
Spineless sycophants, the whole lot of them.

What makes you believe that she's never been asked by an interviewer/reporter? I assume that she has. I suspect that the Q has gotten tedious over the years.

Not true that she does not make any noise during practice. I've seen her in practice quite a few times at Stanford. When she first starts out, she is relatively quiet. She sometimes grunts after being on the court 5-10 mins. But at a moderate decibel level. However, after she has been practicing on the court for 30-40 mins, the decibel level increases noticeably. I've seen the same thing with other notorious grunters/shriekers.

When she plays a match, you might not hear much at first when she is warming up. But the sounds will start coming sometimes with her service practice. Quite often the level increases when the match starts. However, I have also seen her when she has been relatively quiet for the first part of the first set. She seemed to be playing a bit flat when I saw her doing that. Late in the first set, however, she started make a lot of noise as her intensity of play increased.

It seems to be more than a matter of exertion. Stress/nerves and intensity appear to be important factors. It comes with a certain mental & physical state. Note that she had indicated that her grunting had become a habit that developed early in her development as a junior. Not something that she can just turn off in the heat of battle. (It proved to be disastrous for Monica Seles when she turned off her grunting for her Wimbledon final in '92). Note that Maria has come out in favor of phasing out high-decibel grunting in tennis for developing players.

Maria Sharapova is Against Grunting in Tennis
Tennis Grunting Ban: Gets Sharapova's Support

 

[TahoeTennis]

Does anyone have that clip of that funny point when this guy was grunting so hard every point and this other guy did it once and lost the point? So funny

 

[Deleted member 743561]

.

 

[TahoeTennis]

 

[Deleted member 735320]

Can't stand it any longer. Not watching any match that has a player male or female who's vocalizations extend beyond the "effort grunt" and carry over after the ball is on the other side of the net. ATP/WTA/USTA, grow some and put some muzzles on these clowns and clownettes.

Is it not true that the code prevents distracting vocals when the ball is on your opponents side of the net?

Yeah, I get it...some of the shriekers/moaners/grunters sell tickets. But if they can't squeal/grunt/moan for three seconds, they'll still sell tickets.

Amen, they need to shut up or stop playing. I don't care if it doesn't bother the other player it bothers commons sense and the fans.

 

[Deleted member 735320]

It must stop. But how…?

You shriek, you lose the point. They will lose a couple of points and guess what they will stop. How did Monica Seles play the 1992 Wimbledon final without shrieking?

 

[TahoeTennis]

No way you can enforce this rule, how loud is too loud. Shriek versus grunt versus c'mon! How many decibals? Who decides? Bring earplugs

 

[Deleted member 743561]

No way you can enforce this rule, how loud is too loud. Shriek versus grunt versus c'mon! How many decibals? Who decides? Bring earplugs

That's the point. If only it were so simple. Players rely on hearing the sound of the ball coming off the racquet to gauge the stroke.

Do you think a sympathetic audio guy might be willing to send a wave of deep bass through the PA at the point of contact for their opponents?

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Imagine that it's been tolerated long enough even to merit the slightest analysis. It's bizarre that people have become conditioned to accept it. Aside from being extremely unpleasant to the ears, it's a hindrance...

I believe that it is a hindrance when the utterance masks the sound of the ball hitting the (offender's) strings. The ball-string sound is important information for the other player since we react to sound quicker than we can process the visual image.

When the grunt/shriek happens just after contact, it may be annoying but it doesn't prevent the opponent from hearing the contact.

 

[jm1980]

It must stop. But how…?

Put a decibel meter on court. Every shriek exceeding a certain level incurs a warning. Then point and game penalties.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

.

 

[jussumman]

Haha

 

[BeatlesFan]

Can't stand it any longer.

Then be wise and don't watch. I stopped watching women's tennis when Graf retired. She was silent on court, played fast and was off the court in 23 minutes. As Pat Cash said, "women's tennis is just two sets of rubbish."

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Then be wise and don't watch. I stopped watching women's tennis when Graf retired. She was silent on court, played fast and was off the court in 23 minutes. As Pat Cash said, "women's tennis is just two sets of rubbish."

Done and done.

However, these mixed events present an unfortunate challenge.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Put a decibel meter on court. Every shriek exceeding a certain level incurs a warning. Then point and game penalties.

Not a practical solution. It is more than just a matter of decibels. Certain types of sounds can be more distracting or more of a hindrance than others.

Top players who've developed the habit 10-20 years ago during their tennis development cannot simply turn it off w/o repercussions. The quality of tennis competition would suffer. Best to get the problem early with junior development instead. This should have been done 25+ years ago when Seles' grunting started to become a model for future players. Instead, it was not discouraged at all at Nick B's and other tennis academies.

 

[Ruark]

I agree, Maria's screams are just downright silly and unpleasant. I also turn down the TV when she's playing. I can see grunting or yelling for a difficult or all-out shot, but just doing it mindlessly on every stroke, even for a soft lob, is ridiculous. The last straw is, as others have pointed out, that in full-power practice she's quiet as a mouse.

 

[tacou]

wth. how did the umpire justify that?

 

[BeatlesFan]

However, these mixed events present an unfortunate challenge.

The agony of the slams and the other mixes events is that before a men's match they will ALWAYS have a woman's match that goes 7-6, 6-7, 7-5, taking 3 hours with about 16 people in the stands. The men's match everyone wants to see will be scheduled for 4:00, but it ends up being 6:15 because these women won't get off the freakin' court.

 

[tennis4me]

Some grunts are short and rather tolerable, but some are more like a forced and prolonged, extended shriek that extends from ball contact until it lands in opponent's side. The latter one is quite a hindrance and annoying, IMO.

Sharapova, the ATG (All Time Grunter) does the latter. Vesnina-style 'Aiya' is more tolerable, and almost hilarious.

Whenever the ATG is playing, I really need to lower down my volume, otherwise someone might think I'm watching some NSFW video "Fifty Shades of Yellow Balls"

Then there's this local player that I believe yells 'die' every single ball he hits, that's just obnoxious.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

You shriek, you lose the point. They will lose a couple of points and guess what they will stop. How did Monica Seles play the 1992 Wimbledon final without shrieking?

Doesn't work like that. After Navratilova and other complained about Seles' grunting in previous rounds, Monica agreed to suppress her grunting for the final. She felt out of sorts and lost miserably to Graf, 6-2, 6-1. Had not lost that badly to Steffi that badly since she first turned pro in '89. Monica vowed that she would not be forced to suppress her grunting again after her resounding defeat in '92.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I agree, Maria's screams are just downright silly and unpleasant. I also turn down the TV when she's playing. I can see grunting or yelling for a difficult or all-out shot, but just doing it mindlessly on every stroke, even for a soft lob, is ridiculous. The last straw is, as others have pointed out, that in full-power practice she's quiet as a mouse.

No, she is not quiet as a mouse in practice. Myth. Relatively quiet at the start of practice but more vocal as practice continues. See post #30.

Does she really do it on soft lobs? Not seen that. I have seen plenty of drop shots in competition from Maria where she is very quiet. It's practically a tell that she is hitting it.