Although she may be one of the most prominent grunters in the game, Maria Sharapova is totally fine with banning it from the sport she loves.
Sharapova has been measured in the past at 101 decibels, but says that the ban would be good for the sport.
"Bottom line is the right answer has been taken by the tour," Sharapova told Reuters. "I started grunting since whenever I can remember," she added at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. "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."
Grunting is most prominent in women's tennis but it also exists in men's tennis. Many players and fans it is quite obnoxious above a certain sound level and that many are exaggerating when they do it.
"The information going towards coaches and academies that are developing talent from a young age is teaching them a certain breathing technique," said Sharapova. "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 Women's Tennis Association has made plans to help combat grunting, including the use of devices to measure noise and education for lower level and junior tennis programs around the world.
"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," said Sharapova.
Another notorious grunter is Victoria Azarenka, the tennis star from Belarus that won the Australian Open grand slam title this year.
According to Reuters, nine-time Wimbeldon champion and legendary tennis player Martina Navratilova calls grunting "cheating, pure and simple."
Many players that are now for their skills on the court have been known for their screams on it as well. Monica Seles was known for her loud grunting and Sharapova is one of tennis's biggest offenders.
"I like it when Sharapova screams," said 27-year-old dental assistant Saeko Hasebe at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. "It's part of the fun. They shouldn't ban it."
Businessman Makoto Taniguchi disagreed with the younger fan.
"It's too noisy," the 38-year-old said after an Azarenka ear-bashing. "I've only been here for two hours and I've got a splitting headache."
Nadia Petrova of Russia was the winner of the tournament in Tokyo, and weighed in on the discussion as well.
"It can be enforced, but it's something very difficult to do," said Petrova. "The players have been doing it since they were little and (had) been taught to do this. It's difficult to change after so many years. There are a few players obviously who are a little bit overboard with their grunting."
Some players feel like grunting can give them an energy boost as well as an emotional advantage.
"I think the main reason is some coaches say the larger you grunt the more air you let out of your lungs to actually execute the stroke harder so you can hit harder," said Petrova. "I guess that's why. That's the only explanation I have. I don't think they even realize how loud they get."
At the U.S. Open this past year, grunts could be heard from Louis Armstrong Stadium all the way to the other side of the complex during some matches.
"Maybe (the WTA need to) work out why it's happening," former U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur said. "Almost everyone grunts. Is it exertion or is it something else?"
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