Any tennis fan who has ever been to a live match has likely been surprised at how noisy the game actually is.
This is often puzzling due to the fact that there are so few players and very little equipment to produce such a loud volume!
History of Grunting In Tennis
Even though tennis players have been grunting during their games for decades, it wasn’t until the US Open in 1988 that players began to complain. Andre Agassi grunted during his match against Ivan Lendl, who complained that the noise threw off his timing.
Another player who has had complaints against her is Michelle Larcher de Brito, who was grunting loudly during the French Open in 2009.
Why Do Tennis Players Grunt?
The sounds that have fans on the edge of their seats aren’t from the ball hitting the racket or bouncing off of the ground but instead from the tennis players themselves. They’ve been called grunts, groans, screaming, and shrieking and are common noises in both men’s and women’s matches.
The most common reason why tennis players grunt when they hit the ball is because it helps them to actually hit harder. Players find that they can apply maximum force to the ball when they grunt.
Doctors have explained that grunting or screaming requires the engagement of core abdominal muscles, which will help to provide the player with more power when hitting the ball, no matter if it is a front hand or back hand swing.
Another reason why players tend to grunt when they are hitting the ball is because of psychological reasons. When players grunt, they are actually able to release some of the tension that they feel during the game and will become more relaxed.
Additionally, it would be remiss of players and spectators to forget that this grunting can also help to intimidate opponents, making it a way to appear much more formidable on the court.
No matter what you think about grunting in tennis, it looks like it’s here to stay.