Unseeded Serena making return to Roland Garros

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Serena Williams is due to make her first appearance in a grand slam in 16 months on Tuesday. The 23-time major champion faces the world number 70, Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic, in the first round of the French Open.

The three-time French Open winner is not seeded in her latest trip to Roland Garros, and some in the American media wonder if that's fair, considering that the former world number one is returning from maternity leave.

But rivals like Victoria Azarenka of Belarus say if any rules changes are made, they must be applied fairly to all players.

"We are talking about one individual being seeded," Azarenka said. "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 in Wimbledon, and Wimbledon has the choice to do that. And this year they are going to be seeding Serena. So if we talk in terms of rules, the rule has to be for everybody."

Williams has not played in a grand slam since winning her 23rd major title at last year's Australian Open. She went on to give birth to her daughter Alexis in September.

Although the 36-year-old American can enter the French Open under a special rankings rule, the tournament's organizers are in charge of deciding the seedings. The WTA treats maternity leave similar to injuries and illnesses. The governing body for women's tennis is now considering a policy change, which would ensure protected seedings for star players when they return to action after having children.