PARIS (AFP) - Defending women's champion Maria Sharapova reached the French Open second round on Monday but was jeered by fans after she refused to carry out an on-court TV interview.
Second-seeded Sharapova defeated experienced Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-4 to set up a clash against Russian Fed Cup teammate Vitalia Diatchenko.
But the 27-year-old irritated the Philippe Chatrier Court crowd by refusing to carry out the traditional on-court television pleasantries, claiming her voice was not strong enough.
She said she had been suffering from a cold in a worrying repeat of last year when she was also sick in the run-up to Paris.
"I totally understand that everyone usually does the interviews and answers a few questions to the crowd," said Sharapova, who was also champion in 2012 and runner-up in 2013.
"It's absolutely normal. I'm not making any excuses but I've got to do what I have to do."
There were no such problems for British third seed Andy Murray, twice a semi-finalist, who took his clay record this season to 11-0 with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win over Argentine 'lucky loser' Facundo Arguello.
Murray, with claycourt titles in Munich and Madrid, goes on to face either Canadian world number 53 Vasek Pospisil or Portugal's 44th-ranked Joao Sousa.
"Always the first round of the majors is tough and it was quite windy and difficult conditions at the start," said Murray.
"I was a little bit nervous at the start but I like that, it shows that you care and want to do well."
Ex-world number two and 2012 Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska was a shock first-round loser. The Polish 14th seed, a quarter-finalist in 2013, went down 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to Germany's Annika Beck, a player she defeated 6-0, 6-0 when they met at Indian Wells last year.
The loss was only the third time in 34 Grand Slam tournaments that 26-year-old Radwanska had lost in the first round.
"Maybe I'm getting older," said the tearful Pole.