BENGALURU, MAY 25,
With 23-time Major champion Serena Williams being denied a seeding for the upcoming French Open, Mary Pierce, a two-time Grand Slam tournament winner herself, called on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to have a re-look at the rule.
Under the rule, players who are out of the game owing to injury or pregnancy for a minimum of six months are allowed to keep the ranking they held when they went on leave, but the decision to seed them is up to the tournament organisers.
“I think this is where the WTA could possibly have a look and consider using the protected ranking for seeding as well,” said Pierce, who is in the city as the Event Ambassador for the TCS World 10k.
“Serena could now play the No. 1 seed of the French Open and that would be like a Grand Slam final in the first round, which is kind of crazy and unfortunate for both players.” The former Australian and French Open champion felt that while Williams wouldn’t be among the favourites for Roland Garros, she would still be a force to reckon with. “I think she is not yet back in form, and clay is not her best surface. I would not put her as a favourite but I will expect her to go deep in the tournament, just because she is Serena. Some people wonder if she can be the same player she was before.
