Maria Sharapova reiterates to Reuters that she supports the WTA's decision to help educate juniors not to grunt. Earlier this summer, the WTA also spoke to Sharapova about a potential initiative to give chair umpires hand-held devices to measure noise levels on court. But the tour assured her that they would not try and implement the changes until after she retired.
“I started grunting since whenever I can remember,” the 25-year-old Sharapova said. “The information going towards coaches and academies that are developing talent from a young age is teaching them a certain breathing technique. 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 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.”
However, world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, another noted grunter, has not totally bought into the plan, telling TENNIS.com at Wimbledon that she was not properly consulted (the WTA countered that she refused to discuss the matter when they approached her). It’s unclear whether the WTA will attempt to give chair umpires devices to track noise levels while the 23-year-old is still playing.
“Good luck with that,” Azarenka told TENNIS.com about the WTA's decision. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, they are trying they are not trying; until they decide something there’s nothing to talk about.”