French Open: Ivanka Trump Defends Serena over Non Seeding Row

As the non-seeding of Serena Williams at the French Open sparked debate worldwide, the daughter of US President Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, too, joined it branding the decision by tournament organizers as "ridiculous."

"This is ridiculous," Ivanka Trump wrote on Twitter. She said:

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

"This was the most natural thing to do on the women's circuit - the officials certainly have not taken a great call here,” Tennis legend Boris Becker argued over organisers’ decision to keep Serena Williams not seeding for the 2018 French Open.  “Serena does have her work cut out for her in the form of top seed Simona Halep, defending champion Jelena Ostapenko, Garbine Muguruza and the ever-dangerous Maria Sharapova,” he added.

It was the last-minute when the American sisters Serena and Venus Williams were handed a wildcard into the French Open women's doubles on Thursday as they eye to add a third Roland Garros title to their triumphs in 1999 and 2010.

The duo has won 14 Grand Slam doubles as a team, but since their last win together in Paris they have only got entry in two further occasions at the tournament, losing in the first round in 2013 and the third round in 2016.

Serena, on the other hand, is famous on the French Open stage as she prevailed to be a three-time singles champion. She will be playing in her first Grand Slam tournament since winning the Australian Open in 2017, following a break from the game due to the birth to her daughter in September last year.

READ: Fed Cup Doubles: Serena Returns with Sister, Olympia Watches Mum

The champion Serena will face off with Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the French Open first round.

"Looking at the women's side, the most amazing story is Serena Williams' return to the court barely a year after having her baby. This is testimony to her incredible fitness and talent, and she will definitely be a favourite among crowds. She should have returned with the seeding that she had before she withdrew from the circuit," Becker told to the Times of India on Saturday.

The Former world number one Williams is now ranked at 453.

Feature Image Credit: The Gaurdian

READ: Serena Williams Talks About Sexism

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