The U.S. Open is changing its seeding protocol for players coming back from pregnancy, reports The New York Times.
USTA president Katrina Adams told the Times that players coming back from pregnancy shouldn't be "penalized" for starting a family and added that "it's the right thing to do."
The new approach comes after criticism for how Serena Williams' ranking affected her seed at this year's French Open. Williams gave birth to a daughter last September and didn't play competitive tennis for over a year. Her WTA ranking fell from No. 1 at the time of her 2017 Australian Open win to No.