WTA CEO Stacey Allaster tells the press in Toronto that she is willing to take on the issue of loud grunting. "We have a hindrance rule," Allaster said. "The reality of it is the athletes themselves are not coming to me say, we have an issue. (But) I'm very fan-centric and if there is a number of fans who are communicating with us that it's an issue, then it's something that we need to look at."
Allaster noted that the chair umpire has the authority to implement a no-grunting rule. Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka, who contested a semifinal in Toronto, are both noted for their loud grunts, as is three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova.
"It’s very difficult to change the existing athletes because this is how they’ve trained, prepared for their entire lives," said Allaster, who noted that some male players grunt too but, "unfortunately our decibels are a little bit higher Our DNA is different."