On Wednesday, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced a significant new policy in support of female athletes. Players will now be allowed to take leave from professional tennis for any type of fertility procedure and return with a protected ranking. A Special Entry Ranking will be granted to eligible players, allowing them to compete in up to three tournaments.
The WTA’s statement read: “The new rule means that players can now take time away from professional tennis for a fertility protection procedure such as egg or embryo freezing and safely return to competition with a protected ranking. Eligible players will receive a Special Entry Ranking (SER), which can be used to enter up to three tournaments, based on the 12-week average of their WTA Ranking from eight weeks prior to the start of their out-of-competition period.”
The decision comes a few months after the WTA allowed pregnant players to take up to 12 months of paid maternity leave. This new initiative is a landmark policy in support of female athletes, and Sloane Stephens has voiced her approval.
WTA has now created a safe space for players: Sloane Stephens Proud of the Initiative
Former World No. 3 and 2017 US Open champion- Stephens had previously proposed the idea of offering protected ranking status to female players undergoing egg freezing. Following the introduction of the new rule, she expressed her pride in tennis leading the way in providing female athletes with proper support and essential benefits.
“I’m incredibly proud of our sport for recognising the importance of fertility treatments for female athletes. For any woman, the conversation around family life versus a career is nuanced and complex. The WTA has now created a safe space for players to explore their options and make the best decisions for themselves,” Stephens added.
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