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UPDATE: Serena Williams’ first round match has been pushed back from 9:40 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. EST today (May 29) on the Tennis Channel.
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*Serena Williams will begin competition today in her first major since giving birth in September…with “No. 453” next to her name.
In a move that has been lambasted by critics as sexist, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) did not give Williams a seed at the French Open due to her maternity leave. It means the three-time French Open champion will face some of the world’s top tennis players at the start of the tournament, making it a much tougher road to the finals. (BTW: Her sister, Venus Williams, is the ninth seed for the tournament.)
As USA Today pointed out, “For working moms, this “surprise” after returning from maternity leave only validates what many have already experienced — that they are punished for having children.”
Serena was No. 1 when she played her last major, a win at the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant with her daughter Alexis Olympia. Four different women have won the past four slams since Serena’s pregnant pause — Jelena Ostapenko, Garbine Muguruza, Sloane Stephens and Caroline Wozniacki.
Williams returned to the WTA Tour this year, winning two of four matches, none of which were on the clay surface that makes up the French Open courts at Roland Garros. Without tune-up matches on the surface due to her unseeded ranking, analysts say it’s hard to imagine Williams earning her 24th Grand Slam title this time around. Serena is scheduled to face No. 70, Kristýna Plíšková of the Czech Republic, in her first round match today at 10:15 a.m. EST (Tennis Channel).
Meanwhile, the uproar over Williams’ maternity leave punishment rages on.
USA Today columnist Nancy Armour said that tournament officials should have made an exception for Williams.
“She had a baby, a physically grueling experience made even more so by complications that left her bedridden for six weeks,” Armour wrote. “To not recognize that that should warrant an exception, be it for Williams or any new mother, is both outdated and mean-spirited. Not to mention short-sighted on the part of French Open officials, who risk seeing one of the world’s most popular athletes make an early exit from her first major since she had her daughter because she’ll face top competition right away.”
View more outrage below:
Disappointing and a deterrent to WTA players managing their complete lives. Female players shouldn’t be penalize for taking time to have families. Also creates a lopsided draw and jeopardizes players who would normally go further in the draw. They lose ranking pts and $$.
— nancy bulkley (@iamnmb) May 22, 2018
I can’t believe you are not allowed to keep your ranking when you go on maternity leave. Very chauvinistic but not surprising! However, I do believe you will be back on top!
— PinkyHopkins-johns (@PinkyhopkinsJ) May 21, 2018
Shame on the WTA and the French Open Organizers for punishing Serena Williams by stripping her of her ranking and not seeding her just because she chose to have a baby. These rules unfairly discriminate against women. Shame shame shame!
— Corinne Zarco (@CorinneZarco) May 22, 2018
This is ridiculous. @SerenaWilliams is a formidable athlete (best ever!) and loving new mother. No person should ever be penalized professionally for having a child! The #WTA should change this rule immediately. #FrenchOpen.https://t.co/W5jQ5aEUXm
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) May 24, 2018
2018 French Open TV Schedule (all times Eastern)
Tue, May 29 First round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Channel
Wed, May 30 Second round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Channel
Thu, May 31 Second round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Channel
Fri, June 1 Third round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Channel
Sat, June 2 Third round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Channel, NBC
Sun, June 3 Round of 16 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Channel, NBC
Mon, June 4 Round of 16 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Channel
Tue, June 5 Quarterfinals 7 a.m. 1 p.m. Tennis Channel
Wed, June 6 Quarterfinals 7 a.m. 1 p.m. Tennis Channel
Thu, June 7 Women’s semifinals 8 a.m. 2 p.m. Tennis Channel, NBC
Fri, June 8 Men’s semifinals 6 a.m. 2 p.m. Tennis Channel, NBC
Sat, June 9 Women’s final 9 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC
Sun, June 10 Men’s final 9 a.m. 2 p.m. NBC
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