Evert: Time to silence grunting

THREE-TIME former Wimbledon champion Chris Evert has backed the move to eradicate grunting from tennis, accusing modern-day players of cynically using the tactic at strategic moments in points.

Ex-world number one Martina Navratilova is leading the call for grunting to be stamped out of women’s tennis, with Wimbledon officials promising to take up the fight during this year’s tournament.

Maria Sharapova, up-and-coming Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher de Brito and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, head the list of those dishing out the decibel damage on court.