Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘extended loud grunting can be a little bit disturbing’

Carlos Alcaraz has dismissed Stefanos Tsitsipas’ suggestions that he dragged out his grunts “longer than normal” during their quarter-final clash at Roland Garros, but some of the tennis greats believe the Spaniard’s grunting was “a little longer” than usual.

World No 3 Alcaraz once again dominated against Tsitsipas as he brushed the Greek aside with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 victory to set up a French Open semi-final clash with Jannik Sinner.

It was another brutal encounter for Tsitsipas as he is now 0-6 in his head-to-head with the Spaniard and his frustrations boiled over as played several erratic shots, remonstrated with his coaching team and also complained to the chair umpire about his opponent’s extensive grunting.

After going 1-6 down in the second-set tie-breaker, the Greek went over to the official to explain.

“There is an extended grunt. Maybe without the grunt when I hit… When I hit the shot, the grunt is extended. When I am about to hit the shot, I can hear his grunt… it’s like a millisecond before I hit [the shot],” he said.

Tsitsipas added: “I never complain about this but it’s frustrating. When I’m about to hit the shot… and moments before I hit the shot, I still hear the grunt. It’s not during the shot, it’s right before.”

Alcaraz has become known for his grunting during his short career and former world No 1 John McEnroe agreed with Tsitsipas during commentary on Eurosport .

“That’s a loud grunt,” the American said. “I knew he was going to say that. He made the point but he’s going to lose some crowd support, so is it worth it?

“I get it though, because it did seem like it was a long grunt, but it’s not the first time Carlos has done it. You’ve got to be used to that.”

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After the match, Alcaraz insisted that he didn’t overdo the grunting.

“I heard his complaints about me dragging out my screams too long, during the tie-break court exchange,” the world No 3 said.

“He is free to think what he wants, but I can say that I didn’t make it longer than normal and that I didn’t mean to bother him.”

But seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander feels Alcaraz did produce a longer-than-normal scream while he is also a little perplexed by the timing of some of the grunts.

“It was an extended grunt,” the Eurosport commentator said. “You are 100 per cent correct. I think he finished it before Tsitsipas hit the ball for sure, but it was the longest grunt of the evening from Carlos Alcaraz.

“Maybe there’s one question that we need to ask Carlos; when does he grunt and when does he not grunt? Because it does seem like he grunts when he hits the ball hard, but the next time he does it, he doesn’t grunt.

“I can understand how that can be a little bit disturbing. If somebody grunts all the time, unless you hit a drop shot all the time, you get into a rhythm. Then suddenly there is a call, could it be an out call?

“No, it’s my opponent grunting a little longer. I think Tsitsipas had a point, but I’m not sure exactly what the rules say and when the grunt has to end. But yes, it was longer.”

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