Jul 5, 2006, 13:28 GMT
London - Shrieking Maria Sharapova fully expects to pile on the decibels as usual when she bids for a second Wimbledon title in Thursday's semi-final match-up with top seed Amelie Mauresmo.
The teenaged 2004 champion has traditionally ignored the 'quiet, please' atmosphere of Wimbledon's iconic Centre court as she loudly goes about her tennis duties.
Each shot produces a dual-tone scream or a grunt with perceived orgasmic-sounding qualities.
British newspapers Wednesday put the measured 101-decibel output of the Russian just above a pneumatic drill and slightly below a propeller aircraft taking off.
But the fourth seed is not bothered by tabloid tattle as she heads towards a fourth career meeting with the French player, who owns their series 3-0.
'I wouldn't change a thing,' said Sharapova on any request the scream machine might receive to tone things down.
And clawing a win out of Mauresmo would be a bonus for the Russian, who formerly held the top ranking herself.
'Amelie is number 1 in the world, she's playing great tennis,' said Sharapova. 'I love that challenge of going out there and competing against the best in the world.'
Mauresmo, who turned 27 on the day before the match, is coming off a three-set win over Anastasia Myskina.
But after winning her first Grand Slam title at this year's Australian Open, the French player knows she has nothing to prove.
'Things are different for me both on and off the court. This should be a good help for the semi-final.'
The second semi will be the third grudge battle in as many events for Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, the second and third seeds respectively.
The pair of longtime rivals will be playing for the 22nd time, with Henin-Hardenne winning their last two contests at the French Open and Eastbourne over the past month.
As major stars from opposite language and cultural ends of the same small country, they maintain a cordial, if distant, relationship.
'We get along,' said Clijsters. 'My feelings towards her have never changed. It has always been the same. I've always been nice to her. I've always been myself with her.'
Henin-Hardenne leads the head-to-head 11-10 with eight of their last ten meetings coming in finals.
Neither have dropped a set so far during the grass fortnight. And that's something Henin-Hardenne doesn't plan on changing.
'I'm not gonna change my mind because I'm in the semis, let's go step by step. I hope I have another opportunity to play another final here in Wimbledon.
'That's my next goal. It's going to be a tough mission for me on Thursday. I will try to give my best, as always,' she said.
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