Wimbledon 2013: Maria Sharapova only interested in focusing on tennis

Maria Sharapova returns to the action at Wimbledon today, ready to carry on keeping business and pleasure separate.

Follow game-by-game coverage as Andy Murray attempts to reach the third round with a victory over Yen-Hsun Lu

There has been plenty of talk of late about her rift with reigning champion Serena Williams, but the third-seeded Russian has tried her best to keep that away from her tennis.

She did a good job of that in her opening game on Monday and today's meeting with Michelle Larcher De Brito - surprisingly stationed on Court Two - gives her another chance to prove she is true to her word.

"I treat this as my work because it is my job, what I work for," she said.

"When I go out in the court, this is where my work goes in. Why would I be thinking about anything else? I've always treated my life and career like that."

Regardless of how much the two will play it down, tennis fans are licking their lips at the thought of a Williams-Sharapova match-up at the All England Club.

The American made a brief visit to Centre Court yesterday where she spent 57 minutes seeing off Mandy Minella 6-1 6-3 to get her title retention under way.

"I feel like I was a little rusty for some reason today," Williams, who now faces Caroline Garcia, said.

"I don't feel like I played my best. I felt really upset when I lost my serve in the second set.

"With that being said, I think Mandy played really well."

Williams beat Agnieszka Radwanska in last year's final and the Pole overcame Yvonne Meusberger 6-1 6-1 in the first round yesterday, setting up a second-round tie with Mathilde Johansson.

Seventh seed Angelique Kerber overcame dangerous American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, while sixth seed Li Na secured safe progression to the second round after beating Michaella Krajicek 6-1 6-1.

The major casualty was world number 10 Maria Kirilenko after losing 6-3 6-4 to home favourite Laura Robson, who will now play Colombia's Mariana Duque-Marino, although her fellow Brit, Heather Watson, went out.

Elsewhere today, Victoria Azarenka opens up Centre Court against Flavia Pennetta and Petra Kvitova meets Yaroslava Shvedova on Court One.

Caroline Wozniacki and the watching Rory McIlroy will be on Court Two as the Dane faces Petra Cetkovska while Court Three can expect an influx of fans as the up-and-coming American Sloane Stephens takes on Andrea Petkovic.

Follow game-by-game coverage as Andy Murray attempts to reach the third round with a victory over Yen-Hsun Lu

PA