THE annoying, ear-splitting grunting of women's tennis players could soon be a thing of the past as the Women's Tennis Association finally cracks down on a practice bemoaned by players and fans alike.

"It's time for us to drive excessive grunting out of the game for future generations," WTA chairwoman and chief executive Stacey Allaster said at Wimbledon overnight.

"The bottom line is that we want to bring forward across all levels of competition an objective rule through use of technology to make it much easier for athletes and chair umpires."

The WTA plan, which was agreed to by representatives of the four majors, the International Tennis Federation and the WTA players' council, includes:

• The development of a handheld device - a kind of Hawk-Eye for noise - for umpires to objectively measure on-court grunting levels.

• A new rule setting acceptable and non-acceptable noise levels based on acoustical data gathering and analysis.

• Education at large tennis academies, national development programs and at all levels of junior and lower-tier professional events.

Allaster said the WTA had consulted experts in the field of sports science and psychology such as Rick Jensen, founder and director of Florida-based Performance Center; noted coach Nick Bollettieri; and past and present players, from Billie Jean King, Monica Seles and the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus.

However,she refused to use the phrase "grunt-o-meters" to describe the handlheld device or put a time frame on the system's implementation.

Allaster did reveal that the current generation of tennis players, which includes serial offenders Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka, will not be affected the changes.

"It would be unfair and unreasonable to make today's stars revamp their ingrained motor skills and breathing techniques that the WTA had no hand in developing in the first place,'' Allaster said.

"What is clear from experts is that it would have a clear, damaging effect on performance of the existing generation.''

The WTA boss said an acoustic consultant will be hired to conduct tests in various conditions, venues and surfaces to develop a cost-effective instrument for umpires on court.

The game's various stakeholders will be consulted to determine how the new rule will be implemented.

"It's going to take some time," Allaster explained.

"I don't want to get ahead of ourselves because it's a collective effort of the sport and we need everyone to buy in."

Allaster admitted the hindrance rule which is currently in place for grunting was not working.

"What is too loud? What is too long?'' Allaster added.

"We need to give the official an objective measurement tool. Can you imagine on a critical point an umpire going, 'Oh, I thought you were too loud.'

"You have to take all of that out of the equation. It's not fair to athletes, the chair or the sport."



Originally published as WTA set to crack down on grunting