Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has always been known for her candid opinions on various issues. One such issue she has repeatedly spoken about is her dislike of grunting in tennis. Navratilova believes that grunting is counterproductive and should be stopped.
Grunting is cheating
In a 2009 interview with Wimbledon, Navratilova stated that grunting could be considered a form of cheating as it prevents players from hearing the ball hitting their opponent’s racket. She called for umpires to take action in reducing grunting in matches. The former World No. 1 said players cannot depend on hearing the ball if their opponent is grunting and whether it’s intentional or not, it should be stopped.
Counterproductive and exhausting
Navratilova also highlighted the fact that grunting can actually tire out players as it takes a lot of effort and energy to produce such noises. She mentioned that when players are truly exhausted, they no longer make those loud noises as they don’t have the energy for it. Navratilova even spoke about how she would advise her own players not to grunt, both due to it being against the rules and because it is detrimental to their performance.
Umpires should intervene
The tennis icon argued that grunting is a hindrance and umpires should intervene by giving point penalties to players who persistently grunt. Navratilova firmly believes that once point penalties are imposed, players will stop this distracting behavior.
Martina Navratilova has never been afraid to share her thoughts and her strong stance against grunting in tennis is just one example of her outspoken nature. Whether it’s regarded as cheating, counterproductive, or simply annoying, Navratilova is adamant that grunting should be stopped in tennis matches.
