Should the players loud screaming be banned at tennis?

[PassingStranger]

Re Sabalenka last night.
All the loud screaming while playing.
It it necessary, and should it be allowed while playing?
Alot of people mention it.
Alot say they are having to watch with the sound down.

When the complainers can play at that level they can decide if it’s necessary! So what if they need to turn it down 🙈

I think you're not being unreasonable but i don't know how they'd enforce it tbh.

It doesn't bother me.

Women seem to get criticised for it more than men, though.

I was young when Monica Seles sparked the same debate. Fair takes me back ...

They never used to do it, I'll bet most of them don't do it on the practice courts.
I had to stop watching Azarenka because of her awful noises.

No it isn't necessary and it's a way of trying to intimidate your opponent. It became a thing about 15'ish years ago, although only certain players do it.
Tedious.

I seem to remember the accusation against Sharapova (no idea whether this is true) was that she was a strategic shrieker. Eg, only shrieked when she was winning (to put off her opponent), but when she was behind and really had to focus, you couldn't hear a pin drop.

That along with all the grunting. Yuk.

Is it performative or was it erased by the Beeb in years gone by or my memory as I don't remember Martina Navratilova do that

It became a thing far longer than 15 years ago. The debate over shrieking was raging when I was a teenager, about 30 years ago.

I found Sharapova unwatchable at points because of it.

A few years ago a colleague and I had a bash on our school tennis courts during the holidays. following experimentation I can confirm that screaming did not improve our terrible game.

Just watching an interview with Coco Gauff who says she doesn't mind Sabalenka's grunting because it's consistent. She dislikes players who grunt strategically at critical points in a game or match - ie, on deuce or 30-30.

Interesting to hear another professional's take on it.

Ok well I was guessing because I do remember a time when it simply didn't happen.
Just watching Sinner v Martinez and Sinner completely silent (winning) and Martinez only making some noises on return but not serve, and not looking likely to win
Unfortunately, it does seem worse in the women's game generally.

Yes, it's very much more noticeable with some of the women players. I just mute it because it gets on my nerves. Some don't scream at all.
Sharapova sounded like the howl of the banshees.

It should have been stamped on hard the day Monica Seles appeared. It's unspeakably annoying. Coaches must take a lot of the blame.
Stop and ask for a let every time your opponent screams.

I agree. Sometimes it's utterly ridiculous.

Annoying, but not as bad as the endless tossing if the tennis ball before serving, just get on with it FFS.

Sinner and Martinez are playing now with minimal noise.

The women who do it are LOUD. It stands out. I don’t know how the non-screamer opponent cope with it. So distracting. That’s the main issue, the opponent coping with it. Maybe that’s the tactic.

Men tend to grunt rather than scream, which doesn’t set my teeth on edge as much even if they are quite loud.

I chanced upon a video on Facebook of Novak Djokovic doing an impression of
Maria Sharapova. It was funny I have to admit.

I hate it. I want to watch a tennis match, not some weird psychosexual drama. It doesn't help the status of the women's game either.

I can't stand it, it's one of the main reasons I hate watching tennis.

I don't see how you can ban it though.

I agree, it's just horrible.

Bouncing the ball 94 times before serving.
Taking four balls and selecting the two fluffiest.
Nadal was almost unwatchable despite being a lovely bloke.
At least they've stopped the ball persons handing towels out.
Take that fucking Rolex off your wrist and wear a sweat band.
Rant over.

Grunting is irritating when you notice it but really, when you're playing you only notice it if it's inconsistent. I think it's how the players feel rather than the audience here.

What I do find irritating is in doubles when between every point they go up to their partner, touch hands, whisper (with tennis ball held over mouth in the unlikely event that their opponents can read their lips) about tactics - especially when it's between first serve and second serve.

It's irritating enough watching, but far more irritating to play against. Especially as the people who make such a thing about it.

1. Aren't generally that brilliant
2. Always do the same thing every time anyway.

It makes the game so slow.

I wish they'd put a stop to it.

Nadal doing his whole pre-serve ritual (touch sleeve, touch other sleeve, touch ear, touch other ear, etc etc, I don't recall the full thing) and continually pulling his shorts out of his backside 😄