A controversial tennis grunting ban could see the next generation of tennis players no longer allowed to make noises on court.
The WTA plans to have a no-grunt rule for the younger generation of players with the aid of umpires that have hand-held devices to measure noise levels on the court. Education at tennis academies and with junior players has already commenced.
Maria Sharapova, one of tennis' most famous female players said that the younger generation should be taught different breathing techniques so they don't grunt. Sharapova has had her playing noises measured at more than 101 decibels.
She said to Reuters, "Bottom line is the right answer has been taken by the tour ... I started grunting since whenever I can remember. I see videos of myself and I've grunted for that long. Nobody told me to do it in Russia or in Florida. It's just a natural habit. The information going towards coaches and academies that are developing talent from a young age is teaching them a certain breathing technique. Because when you start something from a young age and continue it, it's a habit - whether you do grunt or don't grunt."
The WTA believes that that the best plan is to enforce the tennis grunting ban on younger players.
According to The Independent Sharapova said, "The WTA created a plan. That's the smart way to go about it, rather than like taking someone's forehand and grip in the middle of their career and telling them to change it."
Some players have said grunting is a distraction and that some players use it as a way to distract their opponents. Tennis coach Nick Bolletieri, who has trained the likes of Monica Seles and Andre Agassi, has been occused in the past of instructing his players to grunt.
Check out Sharapova's famous grunts in the video below:
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