Why does Aryna Sabalenka grunt so loud?

The Sun

04-07-2025

ARYNA SABALENKA is constantly making noise in the tennis world - and it's not just from her winning titles.
The World No.1 is currently facing British superstar Emma Raducanu in a mouthwatering fourth-round match.
And the Belarusian has a trick up her sleeve, which may put off her opponent.
Why does Aryna Sabalenka grunt?
The most common reason a player grunts is due to the relaxation of the muscles as they play their shots.
Most fitness instructors advise exhaling during a workout, and by doing so, elite tennis stars can improve their breathing and rhythm while playing.
Other factors include players increasing the power on their shots and letting off steam during a game.
The majority of tennis players do this, but Sabalenka specifically is known for her grunting.
A study from 2023 shows that the 27-year-old is the current women's player who grunts the most during games.
According to stats up to June 2023, the Australian Open runner-up was found to have made the noise 100 per cent of the time she served and 95 per cent of the time she played a shot.
What has been said about Aryna Sabalenka's grunt?
During Wimbledon in 2023, semi-final opponent Ons Jabeur spoke out about Sabalenka's grunting during the game.
Speaking post-match, Jabeur laughed: 'She was screaming for both of us, I guess! I couldn't even scream with her. It's tough.
'It is true. I mean, that's the thing about playing Aryna. She's there. You know she's there.'
And at the Australian Open last year, Coco Gauff was asked whether Sabalenka's loud approach distracted her.
Gauff said: 'No. I mean, I played her a lot, so I can't sit here and say that the grunt is distracting.
"I don't notice, you know, when - I feel like at least with her it's consistent, so it doesn't bother me.
"I've played a player in the past where the grunt wasn't consistent, where they would grunt longer on purpose on 30-All or deuce point.
"If it's consistent, I can't really say anything about it."