Two-time grand slam champion Victoria Azarenka has blamed ‘outside noise’ for the criticism of the WTA and their approach to players on the tour taking take away to start a family.
In this year’s French Open, tournament officials have come under fire over the decision to not give Serena Williams a special entry as a seed. The former world No.1 is currently ranked 451st in the world after missing 13 months of the tour to give birth to her first child. Williams’ return has sparked calls for the WTA to implement a rule to protect a players seeding whilst they are on maternity. Both Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova have spoken in favour of a new rule.
Azarenka, who also spent time away from the tour to give birth, has dismissed the hype concerning the subject following her first round loss at the French Open. Azarenka crashed out 7-5, 7-5, to Czech player Katerina Siniakova.
“We are talking about one individual being seeded. So if we talk about the rule, then the rule should be for everybody. This conversation was not on the table last year when I was coming back and I was not seeded at Wimbledon.” She said.
Despite the valid remarks of the former world No.1, there seems to be no cooling in the debate concerning maternity leave. Especially when some are claiming that Williams is being punished for having a baby. An incorrect view when taken into consideration the other players on the tour that have previously given birth. Williams’ treatment, according to the rules, has not differed to what they received.
Nevertheless, there are ongoing discussions about maternity rights. Azarenka will be an instrumental figure in the talks as she is a member of the WTA players’ council. A sub-committee under the WTA board of directors.
“There is a conversation that has started already a while ago on the WTA Tour, and the maternity question we’re going to expand because right now I’m part of the player council, in terms of this conversation.” Explained Azarenka.
“I think that media needs to relax a little bit in terms that nobody is doing anything, because that’s really not true. And I think this chaos that’s been created is not that Serena is upset that she’s not seeded. It’s more outside noise and making a big story out of that.”
Admitting that it may ‘take some time,’ the 28-year-old gave no clue as to what the solution might be. Although she reports that there has been talks concerning the length of the leave and separating the rule applied to injured and pregnant players.
“I would like to just, for the record, say that please give us (the Players’ Council) time and we will, as a woman’s association, we will make sure that we have the best for women players and for our sport.” she said.
At the French Open, Williams will play her first round match against Kristyna Pliskova on Tuesday.
