I think that a little grunting wouldn't go amiss if it could improve Daniela'a performance. But not too loud please !

LOL screeching Dani will be quite awkward. Hahaha..
But if her game improve, scream as much as you want. Hehehe...

This is a new thing to me. I am not going to dismiss Etcheberry's opinion on this as easily as Benji did, but like him I would like to know how grunting or screaming increases one's body weight, improves stroke technique or fastens body rotation.

F.T.R what did Daniela say about grunting?

I've been to both Toronto and Montreal actually. I've lived in Quebec City. I visited Toronto during Christmas and it was freezing, but beautiful. I liked the city a lot. I visited Montreal in April, but a hot April. I liked Montreal too. I found a really cool sports bar with cheap beer.

Montreal was fantastic. Hurley's on Rue Crescent gives out free whisky at 2am on a Monday. The city had a great vibe, it was very funky and cosmopolitan with a lot of things to see and do.

In Toronto I was asked if I was a tennis coach after Daniela's match there in 2005. I was wearing the same gear going back to the hotel at 11:30pm and I got asked where the strip clubs were. Make of that what you will. Peter Ustinov said that Toronto was New York run by the Swiss.


My view on grunting is that all players should be wired up and if they get louder than 85db, they get an electric shock that gets more severe the louder the grunt is.

On a slightly more serious note, Daniela does audibly exhale often enough when hitting so she's not silent all the time. Guga made a bit of noise when he played so it's possible that Passos may want her to make more noise. He is someone that would know how to train a champion. I'd like to know what he thinks about it.

Quite a few of the loudest screamers like Shazza and de Brito went to the Bolletieri academy as did Daniela and she's nowhere near as loud as them. It is possible that Daniela was encouraged to scream there but she doesn't so I'm not sure how receptive she'll be to be told to scream and I'm a little sceptical that screaming in and of itself will increase her power when hitting. Shazza's power comes from her being big and strong and her screaming is basically gamesmanship and intimidation.
I'm a little curious about Etcheberry's data about screaming and the power of shots. Federer's fairly quiet and he's done all right. I'd rather have Passos look after the hitting part of Daniela's game, Etcheberry can work on her fitness. I'm not totally dismissing Etcheberry's input but I would put far more value on what Passos thinks.

Nick Bolletieri used to be a Marine, probably where he got the idea for grunting from:

OT-The Wicker Man has to be the creepiest movie I've ever seen!


I found the remake with Nick Cage to be a very distressing experience. Then again, what would you expect from a Hollywood remake with Nick Cage in it?

hitting the ball hard has never been a problem for herActually this has always been a problem and the main reason why Daniela can't get away with bad movement like Davenport could. And why her serve doesn't live up to its potential. Pace of Daniela's shots is fine vs. most scrubs as she usually manages to overpower them, but once she faces someone more capable she's in trouble. That's why big hitters are the worst match up for her.

What about Jason Statham? Oh my God,the horror. When will it end?

Daniela has trouble against big hitters because of poor movement and defensive skills,and it's those that should be worked upon,rather than this grunting nonsense.