At first it seemed like a joke, but it wasn’t April Fool’s Day. And I was awake, so it wasn’t a dream.

It was there, in the computer equivalent of black and white: The Women’s Tennis Association is working with tournament officials and the sport’s international governing body to cut down on excessive grunting.

What constitutes excessive was not specified, but it seems women are making too much noise on the court these days, particularly when they serve.

It’s a thought that first emerged at the peak of Monica Seles’s career in the 1990s. Now the great Russian player Maria Sharapova appears to be a major culprit, along with the Williams sisters and others.

One competitor at Wimbledon this week complained of an opponent whose grunting drowned out the sound of her racket striking the ball. I don’t claim to know why this matters, but I’ll offer her the benefit of the doubt while hoping she can get over it.

The anti-grunting movement would target future players by introducing a grunt-o-meter, an official said. It’s not clear if some of the current grunters, Sharapova for instance, would benefit from a “grandmother clause” immunizing them from this foolishness, but it’s something to think about.

I’m curious, too, as to what happens if the decibel level on the grunt-o-meter is exceeded. Is a point taken away? A stern warning issued? That thorny detail is still to be worked out, apparently.

Some fans find the grunting bothersome, the story said. To that I say they should spend time on an NFL sideline.

Men grunt, too. Louder, even. In all sports. Only tennis would target women for creating this kind of “disturbance.”

Wonder what Billie Jean King thinks.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland @DaytonDailyNews.com.