'I can't stop grunting'

Serena Williams will today defy calls to cut out noisy grunting as she launches her bid to regain the Wimbledon title. The two-times champion has rejected criticism that her on-court noise, which has been recorded at up to 88 decibels, is a deliberate ploy to put off opponents.

Wimbledon referee Alan Mills has claimed that women stars who grunt, including Williams and Maria Sharapova, are guilty of gamemanship because they put off opponents.

He says noisy players should be expelled from the tournament.

But today Serena's father Richard Williams, who coaches both her and sister Venus, who is also a former champion, said: "There is nothing deliberate in the grunting.

"I can guarantee you that when Serena goes to hit a shot it is a natural reaction.

"If the ball is really low and she really has to crouch then you're going to get one loud grunt, I can assure you."

Mr Williams said: "I haven't brought my daughter up to be like that and Serena is the kind of person who would do her best to keep the noise down if her opponent complains. And I think that would be right, if it was putting off her opponent." Serena, 20, lost her title as well as her position as queen of the grunters to Russian Maria Sharapova, whose grunt has been recorded at 100 decibels, marginally quieter than the noise emitted from a plane taking off.

Sharapova also defended the noises she emits while playing at the All England Club.

She said: "I'm going to carry on grunting. It's really none of my business to control what people think.