The WTA introduces a rule to protect player rankings during fertility procedures, allowing athletes to balance family planning with their careers.
Players ranked in the top 750 can use a Special Entry Ranking for three tournaments after a 10-week leave for fertility treatments.
The new rule excludes entry into WTA 1000 events, encouraging players to schedule procedures during less critical parts of the season.
The Women's Tennis Association is introducing a new rule to safeguard the rankings of players who take breaks for fertility procedures like egg or embryo freezing, allowing them to balance family planning with their professional careers without severe ranking penalties.
New rules of play: Players ranked in the top 750 globally who are out of competition for at least 10 weeks for such treatments can get a Special Entry Ranking (SER). This SER, based on an average of their rank from eight weeks before their leave, can be used for entry into three tournaments within 10 weeks of returning, as detailed by the WTA.
A slight serve-and-volley: There's a limitation, however: the special ranking won't open doors to the prestigious WTA 1000 events. The BBC reported this is to encourage players to schedule procedures during less critical parts of the season.
Players' court: "This new measure...will contribute to enabling our athletes to realize their full potential and become parents at a time of their choice,” stated WTA CEO Portia Archer, confirming the initiative was largely player-driven. Sloane Stephens, a 2017 U.S. Open champion, called it a "safe space" for players, having previously advocated for such support.
Around the courts: This policy marks another step by the WTA to modernize its approach to athlete well-being, acknowledging the unique career timelines of female athletes and joining other leagues like the WNBA in offering enhanced family planning support. The WTA's progressive stance comes after years of advocacy across sports, notably from figures like Allyson Felix detailing her maternal protection struggles with Nike. Elsewhere in major tennis developments, Wimbledon recently announced a prize money boost, while across the women's sports landscape, the NWSL revealed San Jose will host its 2025 Championship.
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