Michelle Larcher de Brito: The Shrieking Tennis Player At The French Open (VIDEO)

You may not have heard her name yet, but she's certainly drumming up conversation at the French Open even though she just lost in the third round. However, Portugal's Michelle Larcher de Brito isn't gaining fame for her tennis skills. Rather, it's her incessant shrieking on the court that's getting her a lot of talk.

On Friday she was booed by French fans at Roland Garros stadium after almost shunning a handshake when she lost to their home player Aravane Rezai. Rezai had also interrupted the game at one point to complain about de Brito's screams.

Listen to de Brito's playing "sounds" in this video from another tournament.

Comments

[PatRM]

03:29 PM on 06/24/2009

The exhaling one does when hitting the ball, if controlled, like Karate, can give the player a more uniform and powerful action. The shrieking and screaming is the severe end of the spectrum and many think it is done as a put off to the opponent. It should be penalized as it is a major distraction to most players. As for me, I'm through watching women's tennis. From all I've read, it seems that most people that are not bothered by this screaming are those that are not that much into tennis, but very much into sports. In other words SPORTS FANS!!!!

[philosopherkingtomas]

12:31 PM on 06/01/2009

love her!

[Seaglass]

02:52 PM on 05/31/2009

Don't care what anybody says or how they try to rationalize it--that screaming is just *godawful.* No way would I watch that in a match, no matter how talented she is. Steffi Graf was arguably the best the sport's ever seen, and she hit as hard as this little twit does--silently.

[Shaas]

09:48 PM on 05/31/2009

How can you consider Steffi to be the best when her fan has stabbed her greatest oponent. No wonder she then appeared to be the best for such a long time.

[Wiseronenow]

10:47 AM on 05/31/2009

I'm waiting for SNL to run with this one in a skit.

[Wiseronenow]

10:45 AM on 05/31/2009

Oh, come on, this is a learned trait that can be changed. I suggest she chew gum.

[Wiseronenow]

10:44 AM on 05/31/2009

W.T.F.??? Sounds like a cat being skinned!!! NO one pulled her aside and told her to tone it down OR work on your breathing in less ear shattering way?

[xpto]

09:15 PM on 05/30/2009

Aren't we missing the main point about Larcher de Brito??
You people have the opportunity of watching the most exciting young tennis player of the last few years, who will be top10 in 1 year time and you just care about how loud she screams!

[andhakari]

06:07 PM on 05/30/2009

She sounds like my first girlfriend. Talk about scary.

[lawrencelugar]

04:35 PM on 05/30/2009

I know it may seem ridiculous to non-tennis players...

But it does help some people play better - it's kind of like in Karate, when you throw a forceful blow or kick, 'screaching' can help you, because it's part of the process in mind and body.

[atombee]

04:06 PM on 05/30/2009

that is ridiculous. there is no reason for her to be making those phony sounds.

[Tremonius]

04:06 PM on 05/30/2009

I'm not sure it's natural. The closest paralell I can remember from my school days was boxing. We were taught to snuff down our noses with each punch. I don't know what the reasoning was behind it. Weightlifters are trained to breathe into the effort, not out of it.

However, if it isn't against the rules, then something that bothers my opponent is not really my worry, is it?

[Rendon76]

03:49 PM on 05/30/2009

It seems to be a waste of energy.

[eden4barack08]

03:08 PM on 05/30/2009

Good grief! That is totally insupportable! Tennis needs some new rules.

[peskime]

02:50 PM on 05/30/2009

She's a French Banshee

[leokev]

08:35 PM on 05/30/2009

Portuguese

[weisenheimer]

02:45 PM on 05/30/2009

The persistant noise making should be banned form the game. Its ridiculous and disrespectful. You can put as much energy into your game without cranking up the orgasmatron.

And some of the male players sound just as silly....

Not my favorite sport anyways, but whenever I turn to it theres always someone hollerin', and then I can only take so much before I turn the channel. Oh well....