( CNN ) -- Serena Williams refused to get drawn into a pre-Wimbledon war of words with Maria Sharapova Sunday -- claiming she had apologized to her Russian rival for comments made about her personal life . Sharapova used her press conference Saturday to lambast Williams over an article which appeared in Rolling Stone magazine . It included a veiled reference to Sharapova 's relationship with Bulgarian player Grigor Dimitrov and also contained a controversial passage about the rape of a 16-year-old girl by two high school American football players in Ohio . `` If she wants to talk about something personal , maybe she should talk about her relationship and her boyfriend that was married and is getting a divorce and has kids , '' Sharapova told reporters . The 31-year-old American is romantically linked with her French coach Patrick Mouratoglou . Sharapova also questioned the wisdom of the World No.1 's comments on the rape , for which Williams was later forced to apologize , saying she found them `` sad. '' . But Williams , who opens her Wimbledon title defense against Luxembourg 's Mandy Minella Tuesday , said she had reached out an olive branch to Sharapova at the WTA players ' party in London last week . `` I feel like Maria , unfortunately , was inadvertently brought into a situation she should have never been brought into , '' Serena said . `` I personally talked to Maria at the player party . I said ; 'Look , I want to personally apologize to you if you are offended by being brought into my situation . I want to take this moment to just pour myself , be open , say I 'm very sorry for this whole situation ' . '' Despite a grilling from the media , Williams refused to get drawn into a row over Sharapova 's stinging attack , while repeatedly apologizing for the Rolling Stone article . `` It definitely has n't been easy . And I feel like I really wanted to say , I apologize for everything that was said in that article , '' she said . She also conceded the controversy may be a distraction as she bids for a sixth Wimbledon title and 17th grand slam crown . Her 16th came when she beat Sharapova for the 13th straight time in beating the defending champion at the French Open .
Serena Williams reacts to Maria Sharapova 's stinging attack . The American was the first woman in history to win a Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon and has won three of her last four matches against Sharapova.