Tennis is one of those sports that many of us love watching.Have you ever wondered why tennis players grunt loudly while playing, especially when hitting the ball? There are many reasons associated with their grunting which you can check out below in detail.We have seen many times that while playing tennis or any other sport many players grunt and still, a question for many of us is why do tennis players grunt? Grunting in tennis is a staple move and is common in any sports game. Though grunting is not always so common in other games, for a tennis player it is very common. The grunting varies from player to player and also on the individual’s performance because many tennis players grunt louder and some of them make next to no noise at all. Sometimes, the grunting leads to success at the time of court performance! If we talk about professionals then grunting is prominent both in men’s and women’s tennis.There are some benefits of grunting for tennis players especially when performing on a court. These include:Breathing properly and taking deep breathes while playing tennis or any other sport is essential. A player should breathe efficiently while playing or else they will get overexerted quickly. The very crucial moment when a player should breathe is the time when they take a shot. In history, Monica Seles was a powerful grunter.Grunting by tennis players helps to keep them more focused on the game and maintain a proper rhythm while playing a game.Many tennis players like Maria Sharapova and Michelle Larcher de Brito who reach high decibels, and Monica Seles who also reached high-pitched decibels say that grunting is very useful while playing tennis. They all are huge tennis players in the history of sport so we’ll take their word for it! Nevertheless, the tennis tools, for example the racket and technique, should also be good in order to win a game. A loud, high grunt can distract the opponent but is not the best way to win a tennis game!For many more fun fact articles, you can also check out why do cells divide and why do your ears pop.What is grunting in tennis?The term grunting in tennis is related to ‘a loud noise or sound made by tennis players when they are heading towards their shots’ and it is prominent in both men’s and women’s tennis in terms of professional tennis level. The two main leads, Monica Seles and Jimmy Connors, are the grunt creators and some other players who also grunt while playing are Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Larcher de Brito, Victoria Azarenka, Rafael Nadal, Aryna Sabalenka, Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Novak Djokovic, and Gustavo Kuerten. The loudest grunt ever made by was John Hutchinson on June 30. The Williams sisters were accused of teaching grunting as a tactic to win the game. It has been reported that Michelle Larcher de Brito made decibels of 109, and once said that ’those who do not like my grunting may leave the game’. Nick Kyrgios is considered the rudest player based on different incidents.Martina Navratilova was not a big fan of grunting in tennis and claimed that grunting was a form of cheating. Grunting has become very important for some former players like Maria Sharapova who stated that she used to grunt when she started playing tennis, Serena Williams said that it does not affect her game much, and there have been some other statements given by famous tennis players like Victoria Azarenka and many more that encourage grunting in tennis. There are many different news channels where you can hear all about tennis.Is grunting banned?It is not banned at the moment. However, in an earlier court performance by Martina Navratilova, she was grunting while playing and this was considered cheating and since that point of time, the International Tennis Federation has imposed a crackdown. .There are four players who are known for their bad grunting, or you can say screaming, when in a match. They are Venus and Serena Williams who have the record of hitting 90 decibels, Monica Seles, once the loudest grunter who hit 93 decibels, Maria Sharapova occasionally topping 100 decibels, and Michelle Larcher de Brito hitting 109 decibels. John Hutchinson made the loudest grunt ever in any sport. There is a question tennis fans ask every time which is why players would grunt in a game defending the opponent.Reasons Why Tennis Players GruntThere are many reasons why players make grunting sounds during a match. One possible reason is that it saves their energy to play well for the whole game as it becomes competitive for both of the opponents. There is a clear history of former athletes grunting as it seems common for them to grunt while they play their sport with full energy and power. A benefit of grunting is that it helps to maintain proper rhythm and also has breathing benefits. There is also a reason why grunters grunt because the rhythm helps them tell how the ball is being hit. Here are some some reasons why tennis players grunt while playing:Feels natural: If players are not purposely making the noise, there is sometimes a sound heard when they hit the ball which is a kind of natural sound. Some players hold the racket in their right hand whereas some hold it in their left. It also feels natural to make a noise when they hit the ball, particularly when a tennis player becomes tired towards the end of match.Gives you rhythm and better breathing. The proper inhaling and exhaling of air while playing is a must. They make loud noise while they hit the ball because grunting gives them a proper breathing rhythm.Gives players a slight edge: It is known that grunting distracts the other person from making their shot. Also, players can hit the ball with full power when a loud sound is made while grunting. It can only be stopped if the umpire takes action at that time.The Science Behind GruntingGrunting is really beneficial for some players for performing in a more competitive way and with full accuracy of speed, checking that the ball was hit by right or left hand. A slight change in time may lead to responding with additional auditory stimulus.Grunting puts the opponent in a pressured environment as they have to estimate the time in which they have to prepare for the volley. The velocity of players and athletes while grunting is calculated at 3.8% in groundstrokes. In the Women’s World Tennis Tour, grunting is very common and sometimes is considered even as cheating as it is easily heard by everyone and also for the opponent member which may distract them while playing. Loud grunts by the player gives them confidence while hitting a ball with their racket. Some players grunt and say that it is either something you do or you don’t.Announcers dubbed one of Sharapova’s matches ’the battle of the grunters,’ as she took grunting to the next level. Grunting maintains the breathing rhythm of players while playing tennis. If either one of the players is silent, then the grunter could have the advantage of distracting their opponent and potentially winning the point or match.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do tennis players grunt, then why not take a look at why do boats float, or why do people dance.
Tennis is one of those sports that many of us love watching.
