ScreamGate Reaches Crescendo

Much has been made of Michelle Larcher de Brito’s unearthly grunts. Those decibels hit a higher pitch on Friday, when her third-round opponent, Aravane Rezai of France, complained to the chair umpire and then the referee about the noise. Larcher de Brito argued back, telling the umpire that another famous shrieker from the Bollettieri Academy, Maria Sharapova, never was called out for her noise-upon-contact. The partisan French crowd also got on Larcher de Brito’s case in the match Rezai won 7-6, 6-2.

In a post-match press conference in which 90% of the questions focused on her loud, elongated cries, Larcher de Brito, 16, was spirited, poised and defiant. The Portuguese-born player who has trained at Bollettieri since age 9 said Rezai had also complained when they played in Miami and was the only player ever to do so. She called it a “tactic to throw me off a little bit” and said it has gotten under her skin. Larcher De Brito then defended herself from a barrage of inquries. No, she hadn’t been taught to grunt loudly at Bolliettieri. No, she wasn’t trying to copy Sharapova or Monica Seles. No, in juniors she never got any complaints. No, it doesn’t bother her when other players grunt. No, she can’t stop. Yes, it feels natural.

“It's part of my game,” the diminutive 5-5 player said. “ I can't really all of a sudden stop grunting….It's almost like a rhythm, like when I hit a forehand or hit a backhand, the grunting is almost like a split step. It's part of my stroke. I don't know what else I can say, really.” She was asked hypothetically that if the tour put out a rule on loud grunting, could she change? “I'm 16; I'm still learning. Maybe I can eventually put it under control,” she said diplomatically.

Rezai, for her part, gave props to Larcher de Brito for being a good young player with potential but also said she thought the grunting was a “tactic” to disrupt her. She criticized it in no uncertain terms.

“She really shouts loud,” said No. 57 Rezai. “Maybe it's the way she tries to impress the opponent, but it really did upset me because it was really unpleasant. I did try to talk to the umpire about this. She kept shouting. I think the umpire did not really do his job, and so I told the referee. You know, it's a pity, because she really plays well. She's talented. She fights, but she still has a lot to learn. She's very young, and I think she's just going through a phase. She's only 16. She has a lot of time to learn more.”

Nadal’s Lesser-Known Streak

Rafael Nadal dropped just four games in dismissing former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday for his 31st consecutive win at Roland Garros versus no losses. As impressive as that is, consider another streak the mashing Mallorcan has amassed: his growing run of unbroken sets, which is one better. Four-time winner Nadal has not dropped a set since the second set his win over Roger Federer in the ’07 final, a streak of 32 and counting.

Women’s Game Needs A “Boss”

On Thursday, Justine Henin dropped into Roland Garros for a renaming ceremony in the hospitality village – a “street” was named for her. Afterwards, the four-time champ from Belgium, looking blonder and more relaxed than last year, gave a short press conference. Henin, who sprinkles her excellent English with literal translations from French, often conveys a nuance or meaning lost in the original. Asked about the musical chairs at No. 1 since she ditched the tour a year ago, she said: “With the respect I have for all these players, it's true that it's hard apparently in the women's game now to really find a boss and someone that is at the top and that wins a lot of tournaments.” Yes, a Boss. That’s what the women’s game needs, Justine.