Sharapova drowns out crowd

“Come on Maria, give it some welly,” a spectator called out on Centre Court.

Judging from Maria Sharapova’s shrieks echoing around the stands, she needed little encouragement.

The Russian’s Wimbledon dream was crushed in a narrow defeat to top seed Serena Williams today – but in the grunting stakes, at least, she remains champion.

In her 7-6, 6-4 defeat, Sharapova’s high-pitched screams registered 104 decibels in the stands.

Williams, meanwhile, summoned 91 decibels with her short, sharp yelp, according to reporters’ sound recorders.

Aircraft overhead and cheers from the crowd were at times drowned out by the pair during the pivotal first set tie-break.

Sharapova says she has been grunting since the age of four and cannot help it.

Both Williams and Sharapova have also been making an impact with their dress sense at the tournament.

Williams was wearing her bright red gym pants inspired by Wimbledon’s famous strawberries and cream.

Sharapova was sporting her layered white outfit after signing a multimillion-pound contract with Nike.