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The grunt stops here: Tennis officials plan crackdown on noisy players By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 6:02 PM on 14th June 2009 A loud grunt as a ball is served down the court has almost become as part of the Wimbledon fabric as strawberries and cream. But that could all be about to change as tennis officials are considering a ban emitting too much noise. As it stands players can have a point awarded against them if the umpire feels they have hindered an opponent. Russia's Maria Sharapova However new proposals to make noise hindrance part of the...

Wimbledon girls are 'just there to sell sex', says BBC pundit Michael Stich By MARK RYAN and JAMES MILBANK 21st June 2009 As a former Wimbledon champion, Michael Stich might be expected to have an expert appreciation for the skill and dedication required to play tennis at its highest level. But on the eve of this year’s tournament, the BBC Radio 5 Live commentator has caused outrage among the sport’s female stars by claiming their role is as much about ‘selling sex’ on court as it is about their sporting prowess. Stich, the 1991 men’s singles champion, made his politically...