'Should be banned': Ash Barty conqueror slammed over 'awful' act
Alison Riske is the talk of the tennis world after sending Ash Barty crashing out of Wimbledon.
The unseeded American crashed Barty's party with a 3-6 6-2 6-3 boilover on Monday.
And while Riske’s level of play was widely praised, her noise levels weren’t.
Many fans were very put-off by Riske’s loud grunting - an issue that’s plagued the tennis world for years.
Maria Sharapova has drawn the ire of the tennis public for her shrieking in the past, and hoards of fans took to social media on Monday to complain that Riske was just as bad.
That noise coming out of #Riske should be banned! Unnecessary and off putting to watch. Switching off now because she’s grating on my nerves. Shut her up #ashbarty with a win please.
— Shae Hussey (@ShaeHussey) July 8, 2019
Riske’s grunting is awful #Wimbledon
— Luke (@Marruso89) July 8, 2019
Loving this Barty and Riske match. I just wish Riske would pack the grunting in 😬 #Wimbledon2019
— Sami (@samiwoods89) July 8, 2019
The grunting from Riske is unnecessary.#Wimbledon19
— Adam Murray (@Adam_Murray97) July 8, 2019
Riske’s grunting on every stroke makes tennis nearly unwatchable. Well done @ashbar96 on your tournament. Good luck at your next one. Go Tiges 🐯#BartyParty
— Jason Kelly (@jase_kelly) July 8, 2019
Give the grunting a rest Riske 🙅♀️ #Wimbledon2019
— Bree Denniss (@bree_denniss) July 8, 2019
Probably put off with Riske grunting ,bloody horrible
— Del bartlett (@del_bartlett) July 8, 2019
Can’t stand grunting from #riske in game with Ash Barry #wimbeldon2019
— Ken Baker (@kwbaker58) July 8, 2019
@TennisAustralia time to change the rules for grunters fine or don’t let them play no matter how good they are. The grunting should be categorised as harassment. That Riske is a good player but spoils the game by grunting
— Heidi Schnauzer (@travelleroz) July 8, 2019
Riske is grunting and ayying along with worst in the game, which the wonderful Navratilova said was cheating as it obscures the sound of the ball hitting the racquet, an intrinsic part of tennis skills. #AshBarty #Wimbledon19
— Melanie James (@melanie_james) July 8, 2019
Barty’s classy response
Disappointed but hardly devastated, Barty accepted her surprise loss with signature grace and class.
"Absolutely no regrets," Barty said after falling a set short of becoming the first Australian since Jelena Dokic 19 years ago to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
"We've planned our days and prepared as best that we can. Today wasn't my day.
"I didn't win a tennis match. It's not the end of the world. It's a game.
"I love playing the game. I do everything in my power to try and win every single tennis match, but that's not the case.
"It's disappointing right now. Give me an hour or so, we'll be all good. The sun's still going to come up tomorrow."
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Riske by name and risky by nature, the world No.55 bludgeoned 30 winners and committed only 15 unforced errors in recording her tour-best 14th grasscourt victory of the season.
The Court 2 shock also ended Barty's 15-match winning streak and scuppered the 23-year-old's hopes of completing a rare French Open-Wimbledon title double.
Barty, though, was philosophical in defeat, reflecting instead on the most magnificent two months of her career.
"Overall it's been a hell of a trip," she said.
"Disappointed right now, obviously it's a tough pill to swallow. In the same breath, it's been an incredible few months.
"New ground for me here at Wimbledon. This is the best we've done.
"Also proud of the fact what we've been able to do over the last eight weeks.
"The consistency we've brought day in and day out, has been next to none. That's one of the best things about this trip.
"I have an incredible team of people around me who love me and support me and are with me through this journey.
"It's easy to go back now and chat to them about it. There are so many things we wish we had done. The what ifs.
"That's not what we try to focus on that. We focus on the positives. The positives of what have been over the last two months, last six months, and for this year, it's been incredible.
"Today wasn't my day, but that's not going to define us as a team, it's not going to define me as a person. That's the most important thing."
with AAP