Grunting in women's tennis? No way, says WTA

Women's tennis, and women's sports for that matter, have enough serious issues to fight. Grunting should not be one of them.

Athletes who make loud, grunting noises can soon be penalized in women's tennis.

TheWomen's Tennis Associationis working with the International Tennis Federation and Grand Slam Tournament committees to create policies and rules to curb excessive grunting in large part to appease fans who don't like the loud noises, according to WTA CEO Stacey Allaster.

Allaster recently told ESPN's Outside the Lines fans are concerned about the noise level and they want to create initatives to address the issue on the junior tennis level to prevent another generation of screamers.

Funny enough, the most notable grunter happens to be the reigning French Open champion and No. 1 ranked women's tennis player in the world, Maria Sharapova.

I don't have enough space to dissect the finer points of the argument against the anti-grunting movement. But let's start with the most broad question first.

Why would the sport aim to create a rule that directly targets one of its top players?

That would be the equivalent of David Stern creating a policy against head bands knowing LeBron James likes to wear them, but because fans and opponents find his fight against sweat beads and a receding hairline distracting, out with 'em.

You don't have to like it, but if it gives them an edge — be it physical or mental — and it's within the rules of the sport, that should be of no one else's concern. As long as players like Sharapova and Serena Williams, another popular grunter, produce favorable television ratings, you'd think the WTA would roll out the red carpet.

There is a more pressing question on this topic, though. Is grunting a enough of a widespread problem to create a rule?

Since Allaster and the WTA powers that be are concerned about junior tennis, I spoke with United States Tennis Association officials, junior tennis players and parents who travel the circuit.

One mother told me she estimated about 30 percent of junior girls players grunt, hiss, make cat noises or scream when hitting the ball, including her teenage daughter Lynsey Boos.

"She says it helps her with the exhaling, and even if it's just mental that helps," Beth Boos said. "It's a mental sport."