Serena won't be seeded at French Open this year

PARIS, May 22 (Agencies): Former world number one Serena Williams will not be seeded at this year's French Open, according to the organisers of the May 27-June 10 claycourt grand slam.

Williams, a three-times champion at Roland Garros, discovered she was pregnant after winning the 2017 Australian Open and following her return from maternity leave in March, the American suffered early defeats in Indian Wells and Miami.

The 36-year-old subsequently withdrew from Madrid and Rome claycourt events and the 23-times grand slam champion has seen her world ranking tumble to number 453.

"This year again, tournament officials will establish the list and ranking of the women's seeds based on the WTA ranking," the French Tennis Federation told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, there will be questions about suspensions, favouritism and rivalries, and fashion, parties and candy lines.

There will be accusations of slights -- real or imagined -- greeted either with a giggle, an icy stare or a pitch-perfect, withering put down. It can only mean one thing -- Maria Sharapova is about to play in a Grand Slam event.