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‘Liked How She Grunt’- Fiery Serena Williams Reveals Yesteryear Tennis Legend That Inspired Her the Most

Published May 2, 2024 | 1:43 PM EDT

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via Reuters

Serena Williams‘ active analysis of the sport counts as a major element of her legacy. Besides being a legendary player herself, the retired tennis star is also known to keep track of other players’ potential, even after her retirement from the sport. Out of all the WTA stars she admires, former pro Monica Seles is one name that she adores.

Recently, Serena appeared in an interview with the Bloomberg Originals team. Besides talking about the scenario of players during her era of dominance, the tennis legend took a moment to mention the aspects that she likes about Monica Seles. “I was actually inspired by Monica Seles, I just liked her,” Serena said, realizing the fact that her compatriot was a source of inspiration during her peak years.

While it is quite obvious for the fans to gain intrigue about the specifics of her admiration, the 42-year-old made sure to fill that blank as well. “I thought she was really cool and I liked how she grunt,” Serena added.

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Possessed by tennis legends like Maria Sharapova, grunts have always been way more than just a voice in tennis. The noise, usually made while hitting a shot, determined the dominant form of a player, often acting as an element to scare the opponent down.

According to the recorded data, Monica Seles was one of the few players who initiated the practice of grunting while hitting powerful shots. Hitting a high mark of 90 on the decibel meter, the 50-year-old stood to be worthy of appreciation from legends like Serena Williams. However, besides Seles, there were other players who ruled the trail of the loudest grunts in tennis.

Maria Sharapova- The loudest grunter in tennis

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Serena Williams’ acknowledgment of Monica Seles’ dominant noises while hitting shots acted as a statement of respect for the 50-year-old. However, it was Maria Sharapova who hit the highest mark on the recording instrument.

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According to the available data, Sharapova recorded the loudest grunt, touching a massive mark of 101 decibels. Along with that, she is also considered the one who invented the noise of dominance, getting her name in the history books because of possessing the unique trait.

Along with her, former American pro Jimmy Connors was also known to possess the trait in the ATP side of the sport as well. Although there are certain rules imposed for excessive grunting, the trait now seems to have lost its intensity.

Written by:

Akshay Kapoor

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Akshay Kapoor, a tennis writer at EssentiallySports, excels in crafting pieces that set new trends. His analytical skills riding on the back of certification in Digital Marketing help inject in-depth research as he covers the business undertakings of Tennis stars. Akshay’s articles touch the entire tennis spectrum, from iconic figures like Djokovic and emerging talents such as Holger Rune and Coco Gauff.
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Edited by:

Arunima Bhanot