WTA Player Council rep Victoria Azarenka said it was her ‘personal mission’ to help mothers on tour (Image: Getty)
Tennis players on the will receive paid maternity leave in a groundbreaking moment for the sport. The women’s tennis tour announced the landmark scheme on Thursday, confirming it was supported by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the PIF.
As part of the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program, female competitors will receive paid maternity leave for up to 12 months. Athletes on the women’s circuit will also have access to grants for fertility treatments. The WTA said the plan would benefit more than 320 eligible players.
The maternity fund programme is one of the biggest initiatives the WTA has announced since forming a global partnership with the PIF last May.
In a statement, the WTA said: “Since the inception of the PIF and WTA partnership in May 2024, maternity support has been identified as a key area for collaboration and a vital initiative by the WTA Players’ Council, which represents the interests of players.”
Along with paid maternity leave and grants for fertility treatments, the women’s tennis tour confirmed “other benefits” would be available in the scheme.
They noted that the creation of the fund marked “the first time in women’s sports history that comprehensive maternity benefits are available to independent, self-employed athletes”.
There are several mothers competing on the tour, including Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic. Former world No. 2 Petra Kvitova also returned from a 17-month pregnancy break at the recent ATX Open.
Sloane Stephens previously called for fertility treatments to be added to the protected ranking list (Image: Getty)
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and Kim Clijsters have previously made successful comebacks after having children. Players like Sloane Stephens have also shed light on their fertility journeys. The 2017 US Open winner
Azarenka, who welcomed her son Leo in 2016, is part of the WTA player council. The two-time Major winner said it was a “personal mission” of hers to ensure that schemes like the maternity fund existed.
“I’m honoured to introduce this program, driven by players, and made possible with the support of PIF and the WTA,” the former world No. 1 said.
“This marks the beginning of a meaningful shift in how we support women in tennis, making it easier for athletes to pursue both their careers and their aspirations of starting a family.
“Ensuring that programs like this exist has been a personal mission of mine, and I’m excited to see the lasting impact it will have for generations to come.”
WTA CEO Portia Archer added: “It can be challenging to balance the physical and emotional demands of a professional tennis career with the complexities of motherhood and family life.
“For some time, we have been exploring how we can increase our support for players to help them become parents at a time of their choice.
“We are delighted that our partnership with PIF allows us to realise a key ambition to offer paid maternity and parental leave to more than 320 eligible WTA players.”
The WTA said the eligibility criteria for participation in the programme includes “competing in a certain number of WTA tournaments in a window of time, and receiving a special ranking, one of the existing benefits available through the WTA’s Family Focus Program that makes it easier to return to competition after starting a family.”