Andy Murray's moan over grunting just generates a groan

While Rafael Nadal was repositioning himself among the game's big four last week, Andy Murray was groaning about his opponents grunting to a chair umpire. Steve Elling says it's hard not to laugh.

After his opponent, Carlos Berlocq, compained about how much time he was taking between points, Andy Murray turned it back on the Argentine by saying his grunting was too loud.

Every so often, a tale comes along that grabs fans by the ear and refuses to let go. Other than the part about the ears, this is not one of those stories.

While Rafael Nadal was repositioning himself among the game's big four last week in Indian Wells, a comical subplot sprung forth involving Scotland's Andy Murray, who by most regards is not the most light-hearted lad in the game.

During Murray's match with Carlos Berlocq, the latter complained that the Scot was taking too much time between points.

Not to be outmanoeuvred, psychologically, Murray groaned to the chair about Berlocq's grunting.

It might have been tense, if it wasn't so funny.

"It was extremely, extremely loud, more than what I have experienced from any other player on the tour," Murray said. "If it's going to be suggested that I am using gamesmanship by taking too long, then you can't be making noises like that on the court.

"It's annoying."

The BBC posted audio clips of Berlocq's guttural grumblings.

The Argentine claimed innocence, prompting this front-runner in the tennis-quote-of-the-year race: "Yeah, but that's what all the real grunters say," Murray said.

Sure, it might have been a serious point of contention for the players, but for the rest of us, it's hard not to laugh.

A word of whispered advice to the Scot: let it go in one ear and out the other.

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