Australian Open Day 3: Wednesday, January 21

[MargaretMcAleer]

Halep d Gajdosova 62 62...A very impressive performance from Halep,well done and well deserved!!!!

 

[sk310]

Halep and Bouchard are both flying under the radar with good clean wins. This could be Halep's time. I think she's playing with a TON of confidence. I could see her beating Maria on the right day.

As for Bouchard this is exactly how she needs to be playing after a rough end of last year. The key in a follow up to a breakout year is to just go week in week out winning matches you're supposed to win.

 

[special700]

Even at 1-4 and down match point, I knew Pova would win. There are only a small handful of players who can beat Pova, and they are all in the other half. Her draw is so easy, she can take the title.

Panova should have told the umpire that the screaming is a hindrance. That was her sole chance of winning. Prevent Pova from screaming and she would really be out of sorts

Actually I think all that screaming is nothing but cheating. It is so un-call for.

 

[MashaFan]

Actually I think all that screaming is nothing but cheating. It is so un-call for.

You may think whatever you like - What you however think in this matter is completely irrelevant since as long it isn't against the rules it is not cheating - therefor your thoughts about shrieking have no valid here at all

 

[10isfan]

I wonder why players do not claim it is a hindrance. Do they not think to do so? Are they not bothered? Do they not want to look petty? There must be one player who is smart enough to complain and gain the mental edge. Tennis fans would actually appreciate a player who spoke out for quieter matches.

I am hoping Pliskova sends the screamer packing.

 

[tented]

I wonder why players do not claim it is a hindrance. Do they not think to do so? Are they not bothered? Do they not want to look petty? There must be one player who is smart enough to complain and gain the mental edge. Tennis fans would actually appreciate a player who spoke out for quieter matches.

I am hoping Pliskova sends the screamer packing.

I heard Darren Cahill and Chris Evert discussing it yesterday. They both think Maria sometimes crosses the line, and it becomes a hindrance when the screams/shrieks last a long time. They also intimated that players are too afraid to say something to the umpire, especially the lower-ranked players she encounters in the early rounds, therefore Maria is enabled to get away with it.

They also agreed that her opponents should say something to the umpire before the match begins, instead of during it, so that the umpire is aware of the opponents' thoughts on the issue, and ready to act when Maria starts going too far.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I read an article a few months ago from the WTA looking into the possibility of issuing a warning first to any player who was deemed to be shrieking causing hindrance in a match,if the player in question dosent abide with the first warning,a penalty then would take place.Martina Navratilova has been a long term advocate of noise hindrance in matches,she welcomed the WTA initial stance on this topic.

 

[10isfan]

Nothing will get done until players tell the umpire that the screaming is a hindrance. Somebody, low ranked or not, should speak up. The problem is not only whether the scream is long. Hearing how the strings impact the ball (which is consistently masked in Pova's case) helps the player with anticipation, not to mention the draining effect having to listen to screams every two seconds for the entire duration of the match has on her opponent.

I do think rules will be enforced as soon as Pova retires. Let's hope that happens very soon

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I also feel the WTA has to stop the shrieking in the juniors coming up through the ranks
I was in Melbourne a few years ago at a junior tournament,actually watching a friends young player
At this particular club event,the officials actually banned a young 11 year old girl,who was soo loud she would have out some of the elite players in the WTA who shriek to shame.
Her reply from being banned "If it is alright for Maria Sharapova to shriek,why cant I?"
Well the young girl player at a good point,she was allowed back at the club,when she toned down her noise,I also feel Grunting is also a hindrance as well,I have been live at Rome and RG where Errani grunts soo loud I decided to leave the court.For a spectator who pays top money at these events it is very off putting indeed.Azarenaka is another player that should be on the list.

 

[MashaFan]

About the shrieking - screaming - grunting issue
I thought that this thread was about the tennis matches played on Day 3 and not about irrelevant comments about shrieking and all sorta pathetic thoughts and attacks on Masha - and accusations about her cheating and hindering - As I said:

1) There are no ITF - USTA nor WTA rule which forbid a player to shriek - grunt or scream while hitting the ball - hence the whole discussion about cheating and hindrance is totally ridiculous - Lies about Masha (or any other shrieky player) cheating or hindering other players should be forbidden on this site

2) The discussion that it disturbs the opponent (hindrance) is hypocrisy - The players concerned - that is the professional tennis players collective as a whole and their own union can defend themselves in case that they feel mistreated and don't need a lot of by standers with sensitive ears and a weak nerve system to do it for them - Note that the majority of the WTA players are "quiet players" and they don't give a damn - To state that a handful of shriekers - screamers - grunters have intimidatet the whole collective of quiet players is utterly nonsense - Many of these players have coaches and yet I've never heard a coach whine about the shrieking - screaming and grunting and stated that his/her charge has been hindered or cheated

3) The discussion about how individuals can not stand to see matches with a shrieker - grunters or screamers and their shocking stories about how they are forced to turn off their TV has no relevance - The majority of the TV spectators and those who pay for a ticket to see a match live obviously don't care - How do I know that the majority of TV-watchers don't care? - Because TV-channels have not complained - which they would do IF they would lose spectators and in prolongation advertising profits

4) There have been arguments stating that shrieking - grunting - screaming decreases the number of spectators in the tennis arenas - However they who state this argument have a) No proof that tennis tournaments actually lose spectators - b) IF the statement of a decreasing number of spectators were true - then they still can not proof that the shrieking - grunting - screaming is the main reason for it
Also - neither the tournament organizers have complained - which they would if the shrieking - grunting - screaming would have resulted in a significant drop of ticket sales - Oddly enough the accused worse shrieker - Maria Sharapova - is a huge spectator magnet and often used as the headliner in the ads of the particular tournament she's playing in

5) The discussion about how the shriekers - grunters - screamers can be quiet if they want or don't shriek - grunt - scream during practice has no relevance either - There are no sane reasons why these players should change their game for a bunch of whiners who can not adapt to an evolving sport - Like every other sport - tennis evolves through the years and whining doesn't stop the progress - Shrieking - grunting - screaming is here to stay and don't you believe all the fantasy stories of coming "grunt o meters" for the umpires and/or WTA measures against the phenomena in a far future - ITF - USTA and WTA know where there bread and butter come from and how popular the shriekers - grunters and screamers are

6) Referring to famous retired players and their opinion is irrelevant - They've no influence what so ever in the decisions the WTA (or other tennis organizations) makes - It's no wonder that the WTA only have made vague promises because many influential sport editors are among those whiners - If the WTA really wants and finds it necessary for some reason to do something about the shrieking - screaming - grunting then measures would've been taken immediately with no consideration to a handful of shriekers - screamers - grunters

7) Last but not least I want to point out that the shriekers - grunters - screamers seem to be a successful bunch of tennis players - Players like the Williams sisters - V. Azarenka - Errani and last but not least M. Sharapova are all current top players - Maybe the shrieking - grunting - screaming is a part of their success and maybe some of the quiet players - like A.Radwanska or C. Wozniacki should try it to boost their power?

Whatever the case - these top shrieking - grunting - screaming players entertain millions of tennis fans all over the world and they're all admired by a huge amounts of fans - So I just wonder (and I know that I once again will upset some people here) - Who are these handful pitiful but overly loud whiners who wanna change things for their own convenience while pretending that they care about the players? - In my opinion these whiners are just a very egoistic bunch of people with no sane arguments for their stand but a lot of irrelevant statements - After 10 years with Maria Sharapova one would think that these whiners have better things to comment about then their never ending futile complains about Maria Sharapova

 

[10isfan]

There is a difference between grunting and screaming. The higher pitch is way tougher to endure. How I wish Pova gets a permanent case of laryngitis until she quits the tour.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

No currently there isnt a rule saying that shrieking,grunting is a hindrance.
As I said in my previous post,the WTA are looking into this matter.
They would then have to go to the ITF for a rule on shrieking,grunting.It would then be up to the ITF to pass the rule and set the penalties in place.

 

[MashaFan]

There is a difference between grunting and screaming. The higher pitch is way tougher to endure. How I wish Pova gets a permanent case of laryngitis until she quits the tour.

What ever you state - your opinion is irrelevant - All your statements are only mirroring your dislike for Maria Sharapova - They're neither objective nor valid - They says more about you then about Maria

 

[MashaFan]

No currently there isnt a rule saying that shrieking,grunting is a hindrance.
As I said in my previous post,the WTA are looking into this matter.
They would then have to go to the ITF for a rule on shrieking,grunting.It would then be up to the ITF to pass the rule and set the penalties in place.

This issue has been debated since Monica Seles entered the scene - Yet nothing has happened yet and I don't see any changes in the near future - Please explain to me why the players themselves never have complained as a collective - Surely they would be the first to complain about cheat or hindrance?

Whatever the case - The whining on this site as soon Masha plays has nothing to do with hindrance or cheating - It is an expression of dislike (i hesitate to call it hate but it is close) these whiners feel for Masha and as such it is disgusting to attack her in every Masha relevant thread for her shrieking - especially as soon as she has won a match - Shame on all these whiners

 

[rubydo]

By far and away the most painful and utterly annoying shrieking comes from Schiavone been at a different court and could hear her wretched screaming from the court she was playing on. Glad she is no longer a major threat in any tournament.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

If I can find the WTA article,regarding them looking into shrieking being a hindrance in the game.I will post it.It was a good article and the WTA did say many fans have written saying there should be some sort of penalty.

Maria stood tough,when she nearly was defeated,Maria used all her past experience and it showed in the end.Though I must credit Panova coming through the qualies,she will learn so much from the match,great learning curve for her,as she nearly defeated the world No 2 player in Maria Sharapova.

 

[MashaFan]

By far and away the most painful and utterly annoying shrieking comes from Schiavone been at a different court and could hear her wretched screaming from the court she was playing on. Glad she is no longer a major threat in any tournament.

It's far more honest to - like you do - frankly state that it annoys YOU instead of like some stating that they complain for the good of the players

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have to go,I have a dentist appointment....later everyone

 

[MashaFan]

If I can find the WTA article,regarding them looking into shrieking being a hindrance in the game.I will post it.It was a good article and the WTA did say many fans have written saying there should be some sort of penalty.

Maria stood tough,when she nearly was defeated,Maria used all her past experience and it showed in the end.Though I must credit Panova coming through the qualies,she will learn so much from the match,great learning curve for her,as she nearly defeated the world No 2 player in Maria Sharapova.

Thanks - re posting the article - I hope that I don't miss it

As for Masha - yes - she played lousy after the first set and to be honest - I really thought she was out of the tournament until she started to even in the third set - I still can't believed that she was able to win - Imagine my surprise when she dismissed 2 MPs with her FH down the line - Amazing guts - what a Warrior Princess - Note that it isn't the first time and for example think about how Masha won the French Open 2014 - Fantastic battles from R4 until the final

 

[Kirijax]

Whether it's against the rules or not, there should be a certain willingness to try and not be a hindrance. Anyone who screams like Sharapova does is nothing but. I tried watching yesterday's Sharapova match but couldn't take anymore after 5 minutes. The tennis wasn't that good anyway. The fact that the WTA has done nothing to stop Sharapova or Azarenka from screaming like porn queens is disappointing and pathetic. And anyone who supports players like that are biased homers who will never change their minds about it. It should be stopped, it hasn't been stopped, and the WTA suffers for it.