The ridiculous screaming from the mouths of players like Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka must be removed from the game of tennis. While many argue this is easier screamed than done, I suggest one simple rule change.
Once a ball a player hits has passed over the net, the player who hit it must be quiet.
The hindrance rule already exists and has been used for verbal hindrance plenty of times before, so why not use it to stamp out what is undoubtedly everyone’s least favourite part of the game?
When Serena Williams was called for screaming “Come on!” in the middle of a point in the 2009 US Open final she went berserk.
In a replay of the ridiculous foot fault outburst from the previous year, she started screaming and remonstrating while making misguided (and in some cases downright idiotic) statements about and at the umpire.
After the fact though, most sensible people (clearly not Serena herself) recognised while perhaps a let should have been played rather than losing the point, Williams’ outburst was pathetic and wrong.
So why not use the same hindrance rule to stop Maria Sharapova’s incessant racket (pun intended)?
Once the ball is past the net, the offending player’s grunt must be done. This gives enough time for any reasonable sound, if actually a result of an exertion of energy, to be finished.
Obviously umpires would have to make judgement calls in the case of lightning fast winners that are past the opponent before you can blink. But the rule could be applied to the shriek.
It would end the horrific reign of terror Sharapova, Azarenka and Serena’s vocal chords have held over the tennis world for the last five years and allow their undeniably excellent play to dominate.
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