Put that second ball in their pocket when they serve? Surely, they are acknowledging on some subconscious level that they are gonna mess the first serve up. And it’s got to be a bit less comfortable.
Well, that’s twice the spare ball has fell out of Murray’s pocket, distracting him to sufficiently to lose the point… So perhaps they just do it because everyone else does.
Is that Lendl in the blue? As coach, he looks like a tired old man and hardly raving at Andys successes… barely slapping his hand on the rail… and who are the other two guys next to him?
I’d bet it’s just habit, think of all the years of training they do before they get to the stage of somebody being there to throw them a ball. They probably feel uncomfortable without it!
I always thought it was like cricket players, who always polish the ball before they bowl in their upper trouser area. Tennis players put a ball in their pocket so they have an excuse to rake about in there when they are nervous, must soothe them in some way.
While we’re at it: why do tennis players insist on total silence? Given the amount they earn, why can’t they put up with a bit of cheering and jeering like every other sport?
While we’re at it: why do tennis players insist on total silence? Given the amount they earn, why can’t they put up with a bit of cheering and jeering like every other sport?
Most of the time I’m fine with music playing, but sometimes, if I really need to concentrate on getting something done properly, I find it a distraction, and turn it off. Same thing for them, at a guess.
…and why are they not a bit nicer to the towel girl? I mean, at least a nod or a smile of acknowledgement as she takes away your manky, sweat-riddled wipe rag…
A mix of a Physiological need for centering body/mind and habit and years of training on courts with no ball boys/girls around and being bored of constantly bending down to pick the darn pesky rolling things up..
I suspect….
grunting is a means of ensuring that your breathing is correctly timed.
It is also something to focus on to stop you thinking too much – as in the “inner game of tennis” book where you try to keep the ‘doubting’ thoughts out of your head by employing a ritual that doesn’t give enough time to let the critical side of your brain suggest that you might screw up the next shot…
grunting is a means of ensuring that your breathing is correctly timed.
What a load of bollocks. Grunting is something seles popularised and annoyingly has caught on in the womens game.
Making a bit of noise at the end of a long rally, because you are exhausted is something different. You never hear a peep out of Federer and the majority of the all time greats do not grunt.
TurnerGuy is correct, that is where it started but has increasingly become an affectation/weapon/annoyance. No surprise that Sharapova’s and V William’s volume goes up when they are in trouble. And then there was Schiavone with her F88k Me shreik last week?!!?
I heard this week, that it will be banned for new players. Sharapova was commenting on this.
I don’t understand why players get penalised for crying our in pain at French Open and yet the absurd screeching is overlooked.