Azarenka Says Everyone Grunts

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 26th October 2013

Azarenka Says Everyone Grunts

epa03842634 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a return to Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada during their match on the fourth day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 29 August 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

Decibel-challenged Victoria Azarenka has gone to the attack on the longtime grunting issue, with one of the loudest players in the women’s game hitting back at charges that it’s just the excitable ladies who make all of the noise on court.

The unique two-tone howl of the world No. 2 is among the loudest – and some would say most annoying – in the sport, but that’s now how the Belarussian sees it. In fact, Azarenka points to her male rivals as perfect examples of those also in need of noise control.

“In tennis it’s weird because everybody keeps complaining that people grunt but if you watch any other sport (they grunt also),”she said. “It’s the same with the guys’ tennis. You watch Nadal and Djokovic. I mean how less intense was that US Open final? Nobody talks about it. This doesn’t make sense in my head.”

Azarenka has more pressing issues on her mind with the WTA Championships being played next week for a final year in Istanbul before moving to Singapore. On hand in Turkey will be season dominator Serena Williams, who has played Azarenka in four finals this season (2-2). Their last meeting came at the US Open with the American taking the victory.

Now Azarenka wants her revenge to close out 2013. “Serena is always improving, this is the beauty of the competition. It’s a healthy competition and you have to rise to the occasion and really step it up to the next level if you want to be up there. Serena’s still not done.

“It’s been really noticeable the gap from last year we have in the matches has minimized. I’ve beaten her twice this year. No one else has done that. It’s just exciting to be in the era of somebody and competing with somebody who is considered the best ever and being their toughest opponent.”

Topics: 10sballs, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open, Victoria Azarenka, Wta