Sania Mirza - General Discussion of tennis matters

[S_K_S]

What will be the ranking situation? Protected? Or has it been too long for it to apply?

[jaydeep]

What will be the ranking situation? Protected? Or has it been too long for it to apply?

Samarth, this BBC article gives more detail answer for your query ... Yes, Sania can use protected ranking for her first 12 tournaments.

WTA gives increased protection for returning mothers on tour for 2019

Mothers returning to tennis will have increased protection for their rankings on the WTA Tour from next season.
Players coming back from childbirth, or injury, will now be able to use their previous ranking to enter 12 tournaments over a three-year period.
As things stand, players must begin their comeback within two years, and then have a further year in which they can enter eight events under their protected ranking - the ranking held at the start of their absence.
But there is no protection in place for seedings, with tournaments able to use their own discretion to seed players.

[jayakris]

A nice interview article in The Indian Express, with Sania - on motherhood, tennis, Olympics, etc.
Sania Mirza: Following your dreams doesn’t make you a bad mother

[sameerph]

Sania played her last tournament in September 2017. Her ranking at that time was 8. So, apparently her protected ranking will be inside top 10. Now, will that rank allow her to entry Tokyo olympics too as it is one of the tournaments within her injury protection period. Will have to see. There does not seem to be clarity on this in Tokyo olympics qualification rules.