Maria grunts her way to semis

PICTURE: AP

NOTORIOUSLY noisy Maria Sharapova has slapped down questions over her loud shrieking.

The Russian booked her spot in the last four of the Australian Open yesterday with a surprisingly straightforward 6-2, 6-3 win over compatriot Ekaterina Makarova.

But she was singled out for criticism during a push for quieter women's tennis at the tournament.

As Swiss great Martina Hingis weighed into the controversy, Sharapova, described by rival player Agnieszka Radwanska as "just too loud", told a questioner that that "no one important enough" had told her to be quiet.