Tennis club bans girl for grunt

MELBOURNE, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A Sunbury, Australia, tennis club has told a 9-year-old girl she cannot play unless she remains silent on the court, the girl's parents said.

Duncan and Ruth Edwards said their daughter, Lauryn, was banned from the Mount Carmel Tennis Club because of the loudness of her grunts when she strikes the ball, the Melbourne Sun-Herald reported Tuesday.

"They told me to guarantee she won't grunt or she can't play," Duncan Edwards said.

He said he was outraged by the club's behavior and he has contacted authorities with Tennis

Australia and Tennis Victoria to help remedy the situation.

"It's pretty slight and now and again she hits it hard and makes a loud noise and that's it," he said. "From just one comment, this has all blown up stupidly. There's no rule against it, so they've made a rule against it."