Paris  - France's Aravane Rezai won the first skirmish in what may be a career-long war for Portugal's teenage queen of scream Michella Larcher De Brito, taking down the world-class shrieker 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 at the French Open Friday.

While the French winner complained - and had the crowd on her side on the Chatrier showcase court - the 16-year-old Florida-trained loser later gave as good as she got in defending her high-decibel style.

"It's part of my game, I can't really all of a sudden stop grunting," said the product of the Bollettieri tennis factory which also produced the equally loud Maria Sharapova. "I just can't, it's just part of it.

"Even if I tried, it won't feel natural because it feels like it's something missing in my game if I just stop."

Even at her tender age, the teen is tough, honed by years in the US. During one exchange with the chair umpire, she told him that no one ever tells three-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova to shut up.

"When (Rezai) was winning she never complained. Only when I started to get my game going, I started winning games, then all of a sudden, my noise is a nuisance.

"It's kind of weird that only when I start playing well is when she complained." The end of the match was marked by a brush of hands between the rival players in place of a handshake.

Rezai, winner of her first title last weekend in Strasbourg, had her own take on the situation: "It's hard to play against a player screaming like that.

"She's very good player, but a very hard character. I hope she's going to be better, but she's young. She'll have to learn many things."

"I told the umpire 'She's shouting too loud. There's a limit. You can't really shout that way.'

"It did bother me, although it's not the important thing today. The important thing is that I won the match. I'm very happy."

Rezai said she believes the noise is all a tactic from the youngster. "Longer shouts, shorter shouts - I think it really was a tactic. She was trying to impress me, but I didn't let her get away with it."

Larcher De Brito admitted she was shaken by the strong crowd reaction against her. "Obviously it wasn't too much of a great feeling," said the American-accented teen. "But I think I played an unbelievable match, we both did.

"I'm 16; I'm still learning, maybe I can eventually put it under control. I'll try, but it comes from Monica Seles, comes from Sharapova, comes from really great players."(dpa)