WTA Announces Paid Maternity Leave Initiative

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced a ground-breaking new policy that grants female players up to 12 months of paid maternity leave, a significant step in supporting professional athletes who wish to start a family without financial concerns.

Funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), a global partner of the WTA Tour, the initiative will provide around 320 players with the same, undisclosed financial support, regardless of their world ranking, with athletes who opt not to return to professional tennis not having to repay any funds.

Beyond maternity leave, the program extends to fertility treatment, including grants for egg freezing and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). while players who become parents through partner pregnancy, surrogacy, or adoption being eligible for two months of paid leave.

Commenting on the initiatiave, Victoria Azarenka, said: “I’m honoured to introduce this programme, driven by players, and made possible with the support of PIF and the WTA.”

“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 programmes 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,” she said.

Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund head of events and sponsorships, Alanoud Althonayan, added: “The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program – a first-of-its-kind and the only maternity program in women’s sports to be fully funded and supported by an external partner opens new pathways to motherhood while creating a more inclusive environment where athletes can thrive in both their professional and personal lives.”

This inclusive approach aims to support athletes in various family planning scenarios, acknowledging the diverse pathways to parenthood.

To qualify for the assistance, players must have competed in at least eight WTA tournaments over the past 12 months or 24 tournaments over the previous 36 months.

The move builds upon the WTA’s special ranking policy, introduced in 2019, which has already benefited 50 players by protecting their previous ranking for up to three years after giving birth.

Notable players such as Victoria Azarenka, Belinda Bencic, and Petra Kvitova have successfully returned to the tour after having children, demonstrating that motherhood and a thriving tennis career can go hand in hand.

The latest policy shift is expected to encourage more female athletes to pursue both professional and personal aspirations without financial or career-related setbacks.

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