WTA Implements New Rules to Support Players on Fertility Issues
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced on Wednesday a new regulation that will allow players to take time off the circuit to undergo fertility preservation procedures, returning to competition with a protected ranking. This measure seeks to support female athletes in balancing their family goals and professional ambitions. The initiative comes three months after the WTA first offered players up to 12 months of paid maternity leave.Eligible players will receive a Special Entry Ranking (SER), which they can use to participate in up to three tournaments. This ranking will be based on the 12-week average of their WTA Ranking, starting eight weeks before the start of their period out of competition.“The new rule means that players can now take time away from professional tennis for a fertility preservation procedure, such as egg or embryo freezing, and safely return to competition with a protected ranking,” the WTA said in a statement.
WTA
Sloane Stephens, 2017 US Open champion, had previously requested that egg freezing be recognized as a protected activity for ranking. She called Wednesday’s announcement a “revolutionary” step.
The WTA also reported that players will benefit from paid maternity leave and fertility protection grants through the WTA’s Maternity Fund, sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.“I am incredibly proud of our sport for recognizing the importance of fertility treatments for female athletes. For any woman, the conversation about family life versus a career is nuanced and complex,” said the former world number 3.
Sloane Stephens
