The Women's Tennis Association put in place "further advantages for players returning from maternity leave" in the future but "stopped short of granting protected seedings," according to Vicki Hodges of the London TELEGRAPH. The issue "became a talking point last year" following Serena Williams' return six months after giving birth to daughter Olympia. While Williams was able to use her protected ranking to enter as many as eight tournaments without qualifying over a 12-month period, the 23-time grand slam champion was "not guaranteed to be seeded." The women's governing body of tennis "tweaked the ruling to offer further protection for returning mothers." In the future, players returning from maternity leave "will now be able to use their previous ranking to enter 12 tournaments over a three-year period." This ruling also applies to those returning from a long-term injury (TELEGRAPH, 12/13). The BBC's Russell Fuller reported the WTA also clarified its clothing rule to ensure Williams "is able to wear the black catsuit which caused a major stir at this year's French Open." She dedicated the outfit to mothers and said that it made her feel like a "queen from Wakanda," in reference to the film "Black Panther." The new rule states, "Leggings and mid-thigh length compression shorts may be worn with or without a skirt, shorts, or dress." But Williams will not be able to wear it at Roland Garros next year if French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli "gets his way." He has pledged to introduce a stricter dress code and said that "the outfit will no longer be accepted" (BBC, 12/13).
