Jan 27, 2012, 3:35 GMT
Melbourne - Victoria Azarenka could just scream when she hears yet another question about Saturday's Australian Open women's final against Maria Sharapova, a match-up between two of the loudest women in the game.
'Oh, my God. Every, every press conference. Can you surprise me sometimes with a different question?' said the exasperated third seed after light preparations Friday for the Saturday night spectacular against her Russian rival in the decibel department.
Between them, the shrieking slammers raise a racket, with Sharapova's grunt measured at nearly 100 decibels at fever-pitch. Azarenka has a different sonic slant, but one that has drawn just as much criticism from those who think players should be more seen than heard.
'Whatever people call us, you know. I respect every opinion. That's it for me,' said Azaranka, hoping to seal the subject.
LA-based Russian Sharapova takes the experience advantage into the match, which will also determine who takes over the number one ranking from deposed Dane Caroline Wozniacki, who will fall to fourth after losing in the quarter-finals.
Sharapova will be playing her sixth Grand Slam final, winning three of them including Melbourne four years ago. He most recent was a loss in the 2011 Wimbledon final to Petra Kvitova, a score she settled by beating the Czech in their Thursday semi-final.
'She's a very tough opponent. She's been in the finals here. She won here,' said Azarenka. 'Definitely she has a lot of experience. 'We always had difficult matches, so really looking forward to that battle. It's not going to be easy. I worked hard to be in this situation, so why stress about it?
'I want it and that's what I'm looking for, so I'm just going to go out there and try to do my best.'
While not keen to speak of the screaming issue, Azaranka admits that she is not immune to the high-pitched wail that Sharapova lets rip with each shot. 'I'm not deaf. Of course I hear her,' said the Belarus player.
'I'm sure she hears me ... and another 15,000 people hear us maybe even further away. It doesn't bother me.'
Sharapova, level 3-3 in the series with Azarenka, is pleased with her fortnight after finally overcoming a shoulder injury which dropped her from the elite several seasons ago and required surgery and a long rehab period.
'This is obviously what I train for and why I go out on the court and try to improve for moments like this,' said the woman who won Wimbledon at age 17 in 2004.
'You have them four times a year, these are the big ones for us, the important ones. It's really where you have to find a way to win and step up when it really matters.
'I don't regret anything that has happened in my career. Obviously it would have been nice not to have a serious injury at 21 years old, but sometimes it's just the way things go.
'The good thing is that I found a way to come back.'
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