Britain's Andy Murray serves against Germany's Benjamin Becker during their first-round match on the first day of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships in London on Monday, June 24.
(CNN) -- Maria Sharapova only wanted to talk tennis after coming through a testing opening match at Wimbledon Monday against promising young French player Kristina Mladenovic.
The Russian's pre-tournament spat with Serena Williams dominated the buildup to the grass court grand slam, but she did not want to add further fuel to the flames.
"I've said everything that I wanted to say about the issue. Wimbledon started. This is my work. This is my job. I'd really appreciate it if we move on," she told gathered reporters.
"Our job is to go out on the court and work and try to win matches and nothing else. That's the most important thing to me in my life right now."
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Third seed Sharapova had been forced to give all her attention to her Centre Court clash with Mladenovic, taken to a close first set tiebreak.
Mladenovic, the 2009 Girls Champion at Wimbledon, continued to impress, but a single break for 2004 champion Sharapova saw her into the second round.
She will play Michelle Larcher de Brit after the Portuguese beat Melanie Oudin of the United States.
Second seed Victoria Azarenka, the winner of the Australian Open, beat another Portuguese player, Maria Joao Koehler, 6-1, 6-2.
But the 23-year-old Belarusian suffered a worrying injury scare in the second set, collapsing to the grass in agony while serving as her right leg gave away.
Read: Serena: I have apologized to Maria
The match was delayed for over 10 minutes while she had it strapped, but she recovered to earn a clash with Italian Flavia Pennetta.
But Pennetta's compatriot and fifth seed Sara Errani exited with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Puerto Rican teenager Monica Puig.
2011 champion Czech Petra Kvitova was extended by American Coco Vandeweghe, dropping the second set on the way to a far from routine 6-1 5-7 6-4 victory.
Top seed and defending champion Williams gets her campaign underway Tuesday -- first match on Centre Court against Luxembourg's Mandy Minella.
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Chair umpires work on the outside courts during Wimbledon on June 24.
Sloane Stephens of the United States plays a forehand during her first-round match against Jamie Hampton of the United States on June 24.
Australia's Lleyton Hewitt celebrates beating Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka on June 24.
Spectators enjoy a bowl of strawberries and cream on June 24 during Wimbledon at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.
Australian fans cheer for Hewitt during his day one match against Wawrinka of Switzerland.
Croatia's Marin Cilic serves against Cyprus' Marcos Baghdatis on his way to victory in their first-round match on June 24. Cilic won 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Belgium's David Goffin returns against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their first-round match on June 24. Tsonga won in straight sets 7-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Fans cheer for Andy Murray of Great Britain during his first-round match against Benjamin Becker of Germany on June 24.
Tsonga serves against Goffin on June 24.
A worker updates the Wimbledon scoreboard on June 24.
Tsonga serves against Goffin during their first-round match on June 24.
In an opening-round upset, 
Darcis, ranked No. 135 in the world, celebrates match point against Nadal on June 24.
Maria Sharapova of Russia stretches for a forehand during her first-round match against Kristina Mladenovic of France on June 24. Sharapova won 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus falls during a point against Portugal's Maria Joao Kohler during her first-round match on June 24. Azarenka won 6-1, 6-2.
Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after defeating Romania's Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 during their men's first-round match on June 24.
Pippa Middleton and James Middleton, siblings of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, talk during the match between Hanescu and Federer on June 24.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France plays a forehand against David Goffin of Belgium on June 24. Tsonga won 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-3.
Fans queue for entry into the grounds on the first day of the tournament on June 24.
Marinko Matosevic of Australia reacts during his match against Guillaume Rufin of France on June 24. Rufin won 6-1, 4-6, 7-4, 6-3.
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