The French Open announced on Monday it will not give Serena Williams a seeding for her return to grand slam tennis following maternity leave.
“This year again, tournament officials will establish the list and ranking of the women’s seeds based on the WTA ranking,” the French Tennis Federation said in a statement. “Consequently, [the seeds] will reflect this week’s world ranking.”
Williams, a three-time French Open champion, is expected to play in her first major since giving birth to her daughter in September. While Williams can enter Roland Garros under the WTA’s protected or “special” ranking rule, it’s up to grand slam organisers to give her a seed. While she was world No1 when she left the tour to give birth, Williams is currently ranked No453. Without a seeding, the 23-time grand slam singles champion risks facing top-ranked players in the early rounds.
The WTA is considering a rule change to add protected seedings for highly ranked players returning from maternity leave but the earliest that could take effect is next year.
Several of Williams’ biggest rivals believe she deserves a seeding. “I would like to see that [rule] change,” Maria Sharapova said at the Italian Open last week. “It’s such an incredible effort for a woman to come back from physically, emotionally. ... There’s just another whole dimension to the travel, to the experiences, to the emotions to the physicality of every single day.”
Williams returned to the tour briefly in March after a 14-month absence. She was not seeded at tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, and compiled two wins and two losses.
Williams has recounted the difficulties she faced in childbirth, and a pulmonary embolism made it hard for her to breathe shortly after her daughter was born. But after a period of training, coach Patrick Mouratoglou last week told the WTA tour website that “Serena will play the French Open to win it.”
The French Open draw will be made on Thursday, with the tournament starting on Sunday.