Screeching ladies force millions to hit the mute
TENNIS fans reached for the TV remote yesterday to silence female players’ incessant shrieking.
Maria Sharapova grunted and screamed her way through her quarter-final match at Wimbledon – reigniting the debate over noisy stars.
Fans and celebrities alike watching at home took to Twitter to vent their frustration. TV presenter Lorraine Kelly said: ‘Sorry can’t watch this tennis match – Sharapova sounds like she’s in pain. Must be hideous to play against that level of noise.’
Retired British swimmer Mark Foster said: ‘Not being funny, but I hope Sharapova does not make the final on Saturday. I can’t stand the grunting.’ And fan Sam Reece tweeted: ‘Having to watch Sharapova on mute because the noises she makes are just ridiculous.’
There was no let up later in the day,
‘Terribly loud and annoying’
when Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus played each other on Centre Court.
Miss Azarenka, 25, who makes a short, sharp cry, has been recorded producing a sound of 83.5 decibels while Miss Williams, 33, has reached 88.9 decibels. Miss Sharapova has the loudest shriek, however, at an incredible 101 decibels, the equivalent of a landing plane.
The debate over noisy female stars dates back to 1992, when Monica Seles was told to shut up by American opponent Jennifer Capriati, while Czech star Martina Navratilova said she sounded like a ‘stuck pig’.
Miss Navratilova complained that her opponent’s grunting interfered with her sensory perception and meant she could not hear the ball leaving the racket. But experts argue there is a scientific benefit and it actually helps to apply maximal force.
One woman watching Miss Sharapova’s match yesterday said: ‘It was terribly loud and annoying. It was very annoying for us watching, so I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the poor girl she was playing against.’
The Women’s Tennis Association has previously described the noise as ‘bothersome’ while Richard Lewis, the chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, has said they would like the on- court noise to be reduced, but it would be difficult to persuade stars to change.
While screaming is allowed, the WTA rules state that if a player feels they are hindered by an opponent’s excessive grunting they could raise this with the umpire. To date, no one has. Miss Sharapova has been unapologetic. Asked about the noise yesterday, she said: ‘I have nothing to say. It’s nothing new. It’s not a new question, so...’