Serena Williams is being punished for taking maternity leave, according to the tournament director of the Miami Open.
James Blake believes the seeding system needs to change in tournaments to accommodate those that take a break from the sport due to pregnancy. Under current rules, Williams had no protection over her ranking whilst absent. Meaning that she has returned to the tour without a ranking, despite being the world No.1 prior to her maternity leave. Starting her comeback earlier this month at the Indian Wells, she reached the third round before losing to sister Venus. Allowing her to rise back to 491st in the world.
“I think they are going to start talking about changing the way some seedings are done and I hope they do,” Blake told AFP.
“For someone who goes on maternity break, they should be protected. These kind of things shouldn’t happen. She has won this title so many times that she needs protection.
“It’s not as if she left because of injury and lost her passion for the game. She had a kid which we should all be celebrating so when she comes back there should be a grace period where she can still be seeded.
“It’s a kind of punishment which is tough. I hope they revisit those talks although it will be too late for her unless she decides to have another child,” Blake added.
As a result of her ranking, Williams faces a tough task in Miami. An event that she has won a record eight times. She will start her campaign against rising star Naomi Osaka, who won her maiden title on Sunday in Indian Wells. Should she get through that match, world No.4 Svitolina awaits in the second round.
Blake is not the first tennis figure to call for changes to be made to maternity leave. World No.1 Simona Halep has also been a vocal supporter. Telling reporters last week in Indian Wells that Williams ‘should have been the top seed’ in the draw.
“I think she should have been ranked as she left.” Said Halep. “Not taking the ranking because she didn’t play tournaments, but just protected ranking for — I don’t know how many tournaments you have, like, eight. She could be the No. 1 seed for that, for those tournaments. This is my opinion.”
There is yet to be any comment from the WTA regarding the current status of their maternity policy and if they intend to review it.
