Madrid Open: Battle of Grunts Ensues as Aryna Sabalenka and Danielle Collins Exchange Blows in Intriguing Contest for Tennis Fans

Grunting in tennis is a common phenomenon. Both male and female tennis players are known to perform this act quite involuntarily, without being aware of it. While fans might perceive a certain player’s grunt to be deliberate, there isn’t much in terms of rules that could be implemented to curb this act in anyway.

From the likes of Maria Sharapova to the current world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka, there are quite a few famous grunts in women’s tennis. When two such fierce players meet each other in the third round at Madrid Open, the roof is going to erupt for sure. Sabalenka, whose grunts are known to hit the 90 db mark with ease, was joined by America’s Danielle Collins on Monday in the third-round.

Both players are known to give their absolute best on-court and are unapologetic about their fierce attitudes. With their intensity, Aryna and Danielle can really bring the roof down and that’s what happened during a brief moment in the first set.

It was Collins’ turn to scream “Let’s go” after saving a break point at 5-3. Win or lose, the American WTA star ensures that the opponent feels her presence many-a-times during the match and that’s exactly what Sabalenka felt in that moment.

However, the tables have turned quite quickly and the Belarusian, taking complete advantage in the next point, gave it back to Danielle with an even louder, “Let’s go.”

Tennis Fans Relish Intense Grunting Battle between Aryna Sabalenka and Danielle Collins

This is a battle between two stalwarts of the sport and fans are loving every single minute of this action. Taking note of this intense moment, they decided to join the fun by dropping some intelligent comments.

“This match is literally a scream-off”, wrote one fan in a perfect description of this encounter. “Screamfest and I’m loving all of it”, wrote another excited fan. With 2024 being her final year, Danielle Collins has got a lot of fans rooting for her to win it all as one Twitter user wrote, “I need Daniyell to win Madrid so badly.” 

Not just their grunting but both the WTA players are playing top-notch tennis and putting up a late-night show for fans at Manolo Santana. While Danielle clinched the first set despite Sabalenka bouncing back, it was the Belarusian’s turn to win the second and take the match to a decider.

Update – Aryna Sabalenka breaks first in the third set; takes an early lead 2-0. 

The winner of this enthralling match-up will fill the final spot of the eight quarter-finalists in Madrid. Russian Mirra Andreeva will await either Collins or Sabalenka in what can easily be one of the biggest matches of her young career.