Comments on: Nick Bollettieri Refutes Martina Navratilova’s “Cheating” Claims

By: Bank of the West Classic Blog: Qualifying Day 2 - On the Baseline Tennis News

Bank of the West Classic Blog: Qualifying Day 2 - On the Baseline Tennis News — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:32:40 +0000

[...] note: Larcher de Britto is not that loud. Oh, and she lost a tough three-setter and will have to pack her bags for the next stop on the [...]

By: The Fan Child

The Fan Child — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:21:50 +0000

I see it from both sides – players need to release energy for sure, but some are over the top, and from a fan’s perspective, I think it colors the competition negatively.

I think there is “proper” grunting and “improper” grunting.

Raising the issues should go a long way – as Nick himself said he’ll have to address it with other young players going forward. He should. Fan’s definitely don’t like it – just ask the Parisians…

By: gordon

gordon — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:03:16 +0000

grunting is not something you practice or do it on purpose. it is just the players way of releasing the energy while taking your body to the max! some players do it exhaling and some add the sound to it! once again none of it is premeditated and depends on the way that person is built the way they breathe etc. we are all different and people who are broad minded are able to recognize that fact. for those who are not…well keep complaining!!! but you are missing the point!! tennis is a wonderful game with and without screaming!!

By: Roi

Roi — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:52:36 +0000

But some of this explanations are kind of out of date: Sure, in the past women didnt scream the way they do now, but there is no way to compare the power and strenght involved. Fast, powerful and risky (in shots i mean) is the game of today.

I do agree on the chair umpires wasting some of their facculties when not warning players with excesive noise, they are distracting on purpose and, while not agaist the rules, is clearly againts some honesty. Men and women should be penalized for this based on VERY CLEAR rules. Larcher de Brito made it annoying in that match but its not like she is a monster. Turning off your TV or mute? I see that unnecesary, you can easily turn down the volume or so.

“…the ladies would start being more lady-like eventually…” This is just unbelievable, there is a clear difference between female tennis and femenine players, tha last one being up to the player… or anyone for that matter!!!

By: The Insider

The Insider — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:06:05 +0000

I completely agree with Navratilova on this one. People will just turn off the TV!

By: maureen

maureen — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:44:35 +0000

All the class act players for decades NEVER screeched and acreamed and growled and grunted,
and they were great athletes! Steffi & Martina & Margaret Court & Evert, etc… have the most Grand Slams and never needed to resort to such irritation!

Nick is wrong when he says it’s up to the players & not the spectators. The spectators pay the bill!! We pay the players salary for the most part, along with the sponsors, and there should be some respect for us, too!!

Seles started this, and the Williams sisters, Maria, Azarenka, and only a small handful of others continue to do this, but the decibal levels are so high, I DO mute the televion, and I resent it having to, because then I can’t hear the commentators when I mute my TV, but I have no choice… I can’t stand the wildcat shrieks, screams & growls…

I don’t know if it’s true cheating, but you’re not supposed to be allowed to distract your opponent so violently, and it is WAY MORE UNACCEPTABLE to me than all the dawdling and time wasting between points that goes on… (excessive ball bouncing, etc..) Umpires call time violations all the time, so there is no reason they shouldn’t do the same for screeching distraction to an opponent & upsetting the spectators — give them a violation call for noise, and the ladies would start being more lady-like eventually, and focus back on winning matches the way Graf, Navratilova, Court, Evert, even Lindsay Davenport did… Class acts, pure athletes, no screeching, no screaming, no grunting, no ear-drum splitting, high decibal levels… Just great tennis!

Nick is an idiot if he thinks you can’t exhale, show normal exertion, and be a great athletic player, without that kind of unsporting beyond irritating behavior!

By: Marie

Marie — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:30:17 +0000

I would not call it cheating, but I would call it unnecessary and ridiculous. There is a difference between grunting and screaming. A player can release energy without screaming. The male players do it all day long. I particularly find it offensive when a player lets out that scream while putting away a sitter. It’s obnoxious. I hope it stops. It was a glaring omission from Maria’s 12 steps to improve women’s tennis. I am not known for being a quiet player on the court, but after watching/listening to so many pro matches with this going on, I really have made an effort to keep a lid on it.

By: Eric Mitchell

Eric Mitchell — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:27:21 +0000

Cheating? Maybe yes, maybe no. Causing a distraction to an opponent isn’t allowed, and loud shrieking is a distraction. But I think Nick is wrong, tennis is entertainment, fans buy tickets and expect to be entertained. When someone like Larcher de Brito makes it painful for spectators, they will quit buying tickets for her matches. Is this benefitting tennis? Is this helping our sport? Anything not building a larger fan support is the wrong direction.

By: Aaress Lawless

Aaress Lawless — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:15:30 +0000

Thanks, Drew, for a great article!

I think Nick raises a very valid point. Grunting is a form of releasing energy. If you take that away from a player, you’ve thrown her whole game off-balance.