Wimbledon is now in full swing and many fans will once again be wondering just why their favourite players make so much noise on the court.
Tennis fever has gripped the nation once again as Wimbledon is underway, but many fans will be left wondering just what is all that racket. Well, players grunting in the sport is nothing new.
Past legends such as Monica Seles, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe couldn’t serve up an ace or play a ruthless backhand without accompanying it with a deafening cry. Yet the tradition is still going strong today with the likes of reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and modern icon Novak Djokovic all contributing to the noise levels on c
It’s long been a sage bit of advice from personal trainers, and those who frequent the gym, that exhaling when putting in the hard yards can assist with your breathing and rhythm. Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was perhaps the game’s fiercist grunter with her yelling famously reaching an astonishing 101 decibels and she cited her howls as a mix of craft and routine.
Sharapova has commented in the past on why her grunting became so ear-splitting, claiming in part it was due to habit and to help her manage her breaths while in action. Speaking back in 2012, Sharapova also said that coaches and academies are teaching grunting as a breathing technique to young players, and once that’s been learned it’s then hard to stop. She said: “When you start something from a young age and continue it, it’s a habit— whether you do grunt or don’t grunt.”
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