Everyone from regular sports fanatics to Ivanka Trump is calling out the French Open for alleged sexism concerning Serena Williams. Many believe that the tennis champion’s fallen ranking is punishment for her taking time off to start a family.
“This is ridiculous,” Ivanka Trump tweeted after learning that Serena would not be seeded at the Open. “@SerenaWilliams is a formidable athlete (best ever!) and loving new mother,” Trump continued. “No person should ever be penalized professionally for having a child! The #WTA should change this rule immediately. #FrenchOpen.”
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
Serena Williams returned to the Women’s Team Association (WTA) tour in March after giving birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia, last September. Although Serena won a recent match against her sister, Venus Williams, the Grand Slam champion lost to rising tennis star, Naomi Osaka, during the opening round of the Miami Open. Unfortunately, the WTA places more weight on most recent performances than on past accomplishments.
Still, Serena is happy to be a mom and looking forward to her life with little Alexis Olympia and her husband. Alexis Ohanian, Sr. “I feel like I’m against a clock, and that could just be my thing because I’m an athlete,” the celebrity mom explained during a recent interview with Glamour.
“When I’m on the court and losing, I have to find a way to turn the match around,” Williams explained. “I’ve done it a million times. So now [with motherhood], I’m trying to find a way to win, so to speak. That is what my challenge is. And sometimes I have to accept that she’s going to have bad days, and I’m not always going to win, but it’s long-term. It’s different for me. I’m making my way there, and I’m learning.”
Stay tuned for more Serena Williams news!
